Larry Boyd

In a quiet area of Jonesboro, Arkansas, the lives of 84-year-old Larry Dean Boyd and his 80-year-old wife, Othelana Josephine 'Josey' Boyd, came to a violent end. The couple was discovered deceased in their home in the 7900 block of Highway 351 North around 11 a.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023. When the Craighead County Sheriff's Department arrived, investigators determined the couple were victims of a double homicide. The news shocked neighbors in the rural community. One neighbor, Curtis Huggins, expressed his surprise, saying, “You’re out here in the middle of nowhere, you don’t think that sort of thing is going on.” He added that he found some solace after police told him the crime did not appear to be random.

The investigation soon focused on a member of the family. Authorities announced they had issued an arrest warrant for Jonathan Dean Boyd, the 62-year-old son of Larry Boyd and stepson of Josey Boyd. With a last known address in Paragould, Jonathan Boyd was considered armed and dangerous, and law enforcement asked the public for tips regarding his whereabouts.

On Sunday, May 21, 2023, Jonathan Boyd was apprehended in Paragould by Greene County sheriff’s deputies and Paragould police. He was taken into custody and transported to the Craighead County Detention Center.

Following his arrest, Jonathan Boyd was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and theft of a firearm in connection with the deaths of his father and stepmother. A Craighead County District Court judge found probable cause to move forward with the charges and set his bond at $5 million. The judge also ordered that Boyd surrender his passport and wear an ankle monitor should he be released. As of the latest update, a trial for Jonathan Boyd was scheduled to take place from February 3–14, 2025, in Craighead County Circuit Court.