Crime in the Ozarks

The deadly ambush Police Officer Stephen Carr

On the evening of December 7th, 2019, Fayetteville police officer Stephen Carr was sitting in his patrol vehicle behind the police station in downtown Fayetteville. It was around 9:40 p.m. on that chilly Saturday evening, when a man with no apparent knowledge of or ties to Stephen would walk up to the patrol vehicle and unleash a hail of gunfire at the 27-year-old officer. Police Chief Mike Reynolds would call it quote “the worst day in the history of the Fayetteville Police Department.” And the impact of the killing would reverberate throughout the local law enforcement community and the public at large for years to come. This is Crime in the Ozarks: The eerie killing of Officer Stephen Carr. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of murder and violence. Listener discretion is advised. ️ Crime in the Ozarks is a product of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Project, learn more at: https://www.nwajournalism.org/ [https://www.nwajournalism.org/]

The horrific crimes of Amber Waterman

On October 31st, 2022, Ashley Bush stepped into an older, tan pickup with a woman she knew as Lucy. It was someone Ashley had met online while looking for a job where she could work from home. It was the second time she had met with Lucy in her hunt for a job. But there was no job. And there was no Lucy. The woman behind the wheel was Amber Waterman. And what followed was what Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway would later describe as one of the most horrific cases he had seen in the entirety of his law enforcement career. This is Crime in the Ozarks: The horrific crimes of Amber Waterman. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of murder, and violence against a pregnant person. Listener discretion is advised. ️ Crime in the Ozarks is a product of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Project, learn more at: https://www.nwajournalism.org/ [https://www.nwajournalism.org/]

What Happened to Morgan Nick?

On June 9th, 1995, a little girl attending a Little League game in Alma, AR hugged and kissed her mother before climbing down from the bleachers to catch fireflies with friends. She was last seen kicking sand out of her shoes before she disappeared. That girl’s name is Morgan Nick and the story of her abduction has rattled the region, the state and the nation for more than three decades. But despite intense investigation and a national focus, Morgan has never been found. In recent years, DNA evidence has pointed to a suspect in her case, but to this date, there have been no definitive answers in her case. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child abductions, sexual assault, and violence against children. Listener discretion is advised. ️ Crime in the Ozarks is a product of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Project. Follow the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Instagram: @nwademgaz Facebook: facebook.com/nwademgaz Twitter/X: x.com/nwademgaz Website: nwaonline.com Written by Chris Swindle Hosted by Diana Campos For more on this case, read Penny Weaver's in-depth article on Morgan Nick, publishing Sunday, March 1st, online at nwaonline.com and in the print and replica editions of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and River Valley Democrat-Gazette.

The Killing of Terry Fremody

A few days before Christmas in 1989, Terry Fremody left his home in California after an argument with his fiancé and hitchhiked east out of the state. Seven weeks later, his body was discovered off an undeveloped road in Bella Vista, Arkansas. He had been shot through the chest with a shotgun. More than three decades later, Terry Fremody’s murder remains unsolved. In this episode of Crime in the Ozarks, we examine the life and mysterious death of Terry Fremody—from his childhood and family tragedies to his final journey across the country. We walk through the discovery of his body, the investigation by Benton County authorities, and why the case still haunts those who worked it. ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of murder. Listener discretion is advised. ️ Crime in the Ozarks is a product of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Project. Written by Chris Swindle Hosted by Diana Campos For more on this case, read Tracy Neal’s in-depth article on Terry Fremody, publishing Sunday, Dec. 28, online at nwaonline.com and in the print and replica editions of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Follow us on Instagram @nwademgaz and share your thoughts on this case. Listening on Spotify? Swipe up and leave a comment. If there’s one thing we’ll never stop doing, it’s keeping a watchful eye on Crime in the Ozarks.

The mysterious death of Debra Ann Landreth Adams

On January 14, 1991, a woman was seen walking along a Fayetteville street. Hours later, she was discovered partially clothed in a rural Washington County ditch—alive, but barely. Within 90 minutes, she was gone. More than three decades later, the death of Debra Ann Landreth Adams remains one of Northwest Arkansas’ most haunting cold cases. In this episode of Crime in the Ozarks, we break down what is known—and what remains unsettlingly unclear—about Debra’s life, her final hours, and the investigation that followed. With scarce records, conflicting reports, and a case that seemingly slipped into the shadows, we explore how a woman with no apparent support system could vanish into obscurity even in death. This podcast is a product of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Community Journalism Initiative. Follow us on Instagram @nwademgaz and let us know your thoughts on this case. If you’re listening on Spotify, swipe up and comment your theories or reactions. ⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses murder and violence. Please consider this before listening. If this story brings anything to mind please contact: Washington County Sheriff’s Office: (479) 444-5700 Arkansas State Police Cold Case Unit: ColdCase@asp.arkansas.gov Written by Chris Swindle Hosted by Diana Campos Read the full Sunday, November 30th report by Ron Wood in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette or online at nwaonline.com. Subscribe to our newspaper, newsletters, socials, and YouTube channel to follow future developments. We’ll never stop keeping a watchful eye on Crime in the Ozarks.