Cold Case Files: Retired Sebastian County Deputy was slain at his home in northern Crawford County in 2014
- Dennis McCaslin
- Mar 4
- 2 min read
On a rainy September morning in 2014, gunshots broke the silence of Bidville, a quiet rural spot in northeastern Crawford County. Locals first thought hunters were out in the woods.
Those shots killed David Leroy Jackson, a 66-year-old Vietnam War veteran and retired Sebastian County deputy sheriff. Jackson was found in his driveway at 22800 Bidville Road around 1:39 p.m. on September 12, 2014. His wife, Janita "Nita" Jackson, had left for town earlier and called him without answer
. A neighbor checked at her request and called 911, thinking it was a heart attack.
Investigators soon confirmed homicide. Jackson had three gunshot wounds to the back .The Crawford County Sheriff's Office ruled it a targeted killing in an area where violent crime was rare.
Bidville is a spread-out farming and ranching community east of Winslow. Neighbors recalled the morning shots but dismissed them at first.
Jackson lived a life of service. He served as a U.S. Marine in Vietnam, then worked as a deputy and jailer with the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office in Fort Smith for several years.
After retiring, he took jobs at A&R Feed and Lowe’s in Van Buren. He built his own home with his hands and loved helping others. Family and friends called him humble, patriotic, meticulous, and generous.
The investigation started right away. Sheriff Ron Brown called the crime unusual for the area and asked residents to stay alert. Deputies followed leads, checked phone records, and waited for autopsy results from the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
In 2015, officials named a person of interest, though the name was never released. They reviewed evidence with prosecutors and the crime lab. Sheriff Brown hoped for an arrest and the family set up a reward fund, later listed at $10,000, for information leading to conviction.
Time passed without a break. In 2017, the reward was $7,500, with no new leads since 2015. Family members spoke of their pain and the struggle to grieve fully. On the fifth anniversary in 2019, daughter Kristin Elder visited her father's grave and asked for answers. She described him as a man who loved his family, community, country, and service role.
The case stayed active. As of June 2023, the sheriff's office said investigators were still seeking the suspect. It remains unsolved, listed on the Crawford County Sheriff's Office cold cases page (noting September 14, though records confirm September 12).
No motive has been shared publicly. No suspect description has been given.
. The sheriff's office urges any detail about vehicles, people, or events that morning.Contact Lt. Chancey or Inv. Smith at the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office: 479.474.2581 (or main line
David Jackson served in war and protected his community. His death left a gap in a close-knit area. One piece of information could bring justice and let his family find peace.
