Arkansas Mother and Two Young Children Found Shot to Death as Divorce From Doctor Husband Nears Finalization, Investigators Say
ARKANSAS — Authorities in Sebastian County are investigating a devastating triple homicide after a 40-year-old mother and her two young children were found shot to death inside their home in Bonanza, just miles from the Oklahoma border. The discovery came as the woman’s divorce from her husband — a local doctor — was in its final stages.
Deputies Found the Victims After Conducting a Welfare Check
The Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies conducted a welfare check around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at a home in the 1100 block of 1st Avenue. When no one answered the door, two individuals who worked at the residence allowed officers inside.
There, deputies found Charity Beallis, 40, along with her two children — both approximately six years old — dead from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. Autopsies are pending to determine the official cause and manner of death.
Investigators say several search warrants have already been executed, with more expected as the investigation continues. Detectives have interviewed multiple individuals and are still gathering evidence.
No arrests have been made.
Divorce Proceedings Were Underway at the Time of the Killings
According to local media, Beallis and her husband were in the middle of divorce proceedings and had attended a court hearing just two days before the killings. On the same day that deputies discovered the bodies, her husband’s attorney reportedly filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Documents obtained by KFSM show Beallis’ husband was arrested in February after allegedly choking her in front of their children. He later pleaded guilty to third-degree battery in October, received a one-year suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay more than $1,500 in fines.
Beallis filed for divorce in March, citing the assault as part of her request for sole custody of their children. It remains unclear whether she had been granted that custody prior to her death.
Victim Previously Claimed the System Was Failing to Protect Her
In August, Beallis wrote a public comment under a KFSM Facebook news post, stating she felt abandoned by the justice system during her divorce and domestic violence battle.
She wrote:
“I’m living this battle right now. I am the victim, yet I’ve been treated like the problem while the criminal — a local doctor — is being shielded by the very system that’s supposed to protect us.”
Beallis also said she attempted to contact Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue but could not get her concerns heard:
“My voice, as the victim, has been shut out.”
In the same message, she warned that systemic failures place victims — especially children — in danger:
“Lives are at stake, including the lives of young children.”
Family Believes Husband Is Responsible
Charity Beallis’ father, Randy Powell, told reporters he believes his daughter’s husband is responsible for the killings.
“There’s nobody else in the world that had any reason to harm her or those babies but him,” Powell said. “And that was only for the financial gain and the hatred he had.”
Authorities have not confirmed any suspects publicly and say their investigation remains active.
Thank you for reading ChicagoMusicGuide.com — stay connected for continuing news coverage and community updates.