More than 200 people gathered at the state Capitol on Sunday in support of a Searcy County couple that has been
pressing the state to re-investigate the Sept. 9, 1989, death of their teenage daughter.
The crowd was showing support for Ron and Mona Ward of Marshall, who say authorities botched an investigation
into the death of Janie Ward, who died at a party she and other Marshall High School students attended at a Searcy
County cabin. She was 16 years old. Dozens in the crowd carried posters and banners to highlight the cause and the
theme of the rally, "Justice for Janie."
Jerry Sallings of Little Rock, an attorney for the Wards, said the crowd was impressive considering the brilliant
sunshine and warm temperature.
"It’s unbelievable, especially on a day like this," Sallings said. Many in the crowd were drawn to the Wards’ plight by
their own experiences as parents of teens. "I was just beginning to deal with teenagers" when Janie Ward died, said
Floy Oliver of North Little Rock. "We’ve been following it ever since," added her husband, Ron Oliver, former
chairman of the Arkansas Democratic Party.
Others said they were drawn to protest what they consider an inadequate investigation. "I’m personally outraged by
the injustice of this," said William Stearns, who drove to the rally from his home in Fayetteville. "I could send another
[email or letter], but I decided it would be better to come down here to add my moral support."
The original autopsy concluded that Janie Ward suffered an upper spinal cord and neck injury after falling from the
cabin porch, which was a little more than 10 inches off the ground.
The cause of death was changed to undetermined after that autopsy was questioned. A circuit judge in December
2004 named Prosecuting Attorney Tim Williamson of the 18th-West Judicial District as a special prosecutor in the
case after the state medical examiner’s office said it disagreed with the conclusions of a forensic pathologist retained
by the Ward family.
That private pathologist exhumed Ward’s body and concluded in October 2004 that her death was a homicide. In
June 2005, Gov. Mike Huckabee designated $10,000 from his office emergency fund to help pay for the new
investigation.
The Wards say the reason for the rally is that Williamson, in their view, has done little to advance the investigation
since his appointment.
"We’re tired of the state’s lack of doing anything in the investigation," Ron Ward said. "Tim Williamson was
appointed over a year ago and has yet to interview one witness.
Mr. Williamson wants to question forensics. We want someone questioned as to who killed our daughter."
In an interview Sunday, Williamson said he is moving as expeditiously as he can on the case.
That includes seeking another forensic review of the case by a nationally known forensic pathologist.
"This case is about forensics and until we have a clear forensic picture, that is the starting point, and once I feel that
we have sufficient evidence obtained we will take whatever steps are necessary to complete the investigation," he said.
In addition to the initial autopsy, at least two other forensic specialists reviewed the case before the Wards’
pathologist, Dr. Harry Bonnell, performed a second autopsy.
"I’m trying to corroborate a medical opinion in this case," Williamson said. "Obviously, you have a lot of doubt
among professionals. Therefore, I’ve got to triangulate and corroborate what the manner of death was."
He dismissed as premature any attempt to question witnesses before the forensics were established. "You’re going to
have to do more than question witnesses. You’re going to have to have irrefutable proof that they are not being
truthful."
In a letter to Sallings on Friday, Williamson formally requested that the Wards prepare a list of names and last known
addresses of all people they believe should be called as a witness in the case and what the Wards believe they might
say either as a witness or to a grand jury.
“The Wards are in possession of information that has not been disclosed to law enforcement that they have obtained
during their own investigation," Williamson said in the interview. "I think the most expedient thing that can be done is
for them to have as much input in this case [as they can]. They are witnesses on many facts of this investigation."
He agreed with Sallings’ own view that the investigation could be completed before year’s end.
Sallings said he believed the letter Williamson sent was prompted by the prospect of Sunday’s rally.
“You all can take credit for this," he told the crowd.
200 rally in LR for family seeking answers in daughter’s ’89 death
BY NOEL E. OMAN ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
January 30, 2006
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