Crawford County jury sends Alma killer to prison for two terms of life in prison for November 4, 2023 double homicide

A local jury found 27-year-old Cooper Wesley of Alma guilty on two counts of capital murder, sentencing him to life imprisonment without parole for the deaths of 57-year-old Terry Brasuell, Wesley’s father, and 47-year-old Donald Lewis, a known acquaintance.

The verdict on Monday followed a rapid three-day trial and only 17 minutes of jury deliberation.

The killings occurred on November 4, 2023, near Alma and Kibler, Arkansas. Prosecutors described the crime as part of a drug-induced delusion, in which Wesley believed he was enacting vengeance for his mother’s death—an act that ended in the lives of two men who knew him closely.

Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Holmes expressed condolences to the victims' families and gratitude for the swift and unanimous verdict.

“We hope that the result provides some closure and allows the families the opportunity to begin the grieving process,” Holmes said.

Holmes praised the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies including the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Alma Police Department, and Arkansas State Crime Lab, along with citizens who provided pivotal evidence.

The prosecution team—Chief Deputy Will Cosner, and Deputy Prosecutors Lena Pinkerton, Shane Griffin, and Michael Rabe--were commended for their rigorous case preparation.

Victim witness coordinators Lupe Ayala and Anna Belle Payton supported the families throughout the emotional trial.