Cold Case Files: From an unidentified body dumped in a Pope County bayou to a legacy of family tragedy

The Pope County Jane Doe case from November 2016 began as an unidentified remains investigation but was resolved for identity within days, though the homicide itself has stayed cold and unsolved for nearly a decade.

On November 19, 2016, fishermen found a woman's body washed ashore on the Illinois Bayou along Lake Dardanelle in Pope County, Arkansas, very close to Interstate 40 between mile markers 80 and 81, right at the bridge crossing the bayou. The Pope County Sheriff's Office responded, sent the body to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, and quickly ruled the death a homicide, though specific details on the cause--such as whether it involved trauma, drowning after being placed in the water, or other factors--have never been released publicly.

Initial appeals described the victim as a white female, estimated 20 to 25 years old, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 104 pounds, with curly auburn hair. Distinguishing tattoos included the word "Angel" on the right side of her neck, a scorpion on her lower back, and the phrase "Miracle Baby Ayden" above her left breast.

These features, especially the highly personal tattoo referencing her son, enabled rapid identification. By November 23–24, 2016, authorities confirmed she was Angelique Hendricks, 27, from North Little Rock (with family connections to Arkadelphia).

Her obituary noted a memorial service on December 3, 2016, at United Pentecostal Church in Arkadelphia. She was the mother of a young son named Ayden, and limited public details described little else about her life, employment, or last known movements.

Once identified, statements emphasized that the homicide investigation remained active with no additional details forthcoming. No public information has ever surfaced about suspects, vehicles, witnesses, or how Hendricks might have ended up in the bayou near the busy interstate.

As of 2026, the case has produced no known arrests or resolutions. References to Hendricks in later news, such as coverage of her son Ayden's own unrelated 2023 homicide in Arkadelphia, treated her 2016 death as an open matter without any indication of closure.

The body’s discovery near a major highway and in a waterway has always suggested possible transport or disposal from elsewhere, but leads appear to have gone cold despite the initial publicity.

The Pope County Sheriff's Office continues to hold the active investigation file, and anyone with information--however small, including details from late 2016 around the I-40 area or about Hendricks herself--is still encouraged to reach out using the original tip lines.

Anyone with information is sked to call 479-968-2558 for the sheriff's office at 479-968-0911.