TIFS Investigates: Leaked affidavit reveals more questions in three-year-old Madison County disappearance

Editor's Note: This article is based on a probable cause affidavit leaked from the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s Office and related evidence logs. The allegations contained within are unproven in court and all named individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The disappearance of 43-year-old Jason Richard Lierl has haunted northwest Arkansas for more than three years. Known to friends and family as a charismatic but troubled man battling substance use issues, Jason seemed to be drifting between communities in early 2022.

He was last seen in late January of that year, reportedly moving between Capps Ranches Road in Benton County and County Road 1101 in rural Madison County. He never made it home.

His sudden disappearance sparked a sprawling and chaotic investigation that quickly spread across multiple counties and even state lines. His vehicle was later found abandoned at the Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville. His motorcycle turned up at the Clifty property of an acquaintance, Aaron McLaughlin. Personal items believed to be his were recovered as far away as Eagle Rock, Missouri. Each clue deepened the suspicion that foul play was involved.

Jason’s family has remained relentless in their search. His sister, Sara Wood, has spearheaded a $10,000 family-funded reward through the “Jason Lierl – Missing Person” Facebook group. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has classified his disappearance as a possible kidnapping and added a $30,000 reward of its own.

Into this already complex and emotionally charged investigation comes a new complication -- a leaked probable cause affidavit from the Madison County Circuit Clerk’s Office that casts a dark shadow over the entire case and raises serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation.

The affidavit, which was reportedly intended to be used to obtain a search warrant but was never successfully filed due to what appears to be a clerical error, is riddled with inconsistencies and factual inaccuracies that, according to a former law enforcement officer who reviewed it, could fatally undermine any future prosecution.

At the heart of the controversy is a glaring misstatement by Stephen Brown of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, who claimed James Evans was arrested on February 13, 2022, “moments after Jason’s disappearance,” when in reality, Evans was taken into custody 19 days later.

Investigators familiar with the matter, speaking to Today in Fort Smith, warned that such a discrepancy could allow a defense attorney to argue for a full suppression of evidence, potentially leading to the dismissal of charges against any implicated suspects.

“This kind of sloppy work is not just concerning--it’s dangerous,” the source said. “An error like this is the type of thing that gets entire cases thrown out.”

The affidavit also details physical evidence recovered from McLaughlin’s property, including bloodstained clothing reportedly belonging to Lierl. This evidence was located inside a van that had been stolen from Lierl and returned on January 25, 2022, ultimately leading to a motor vehicle theft warrant for John Foster.

Further complicating matters, the affidavit references a mobile phone allegedly tied to multiple sexual assaults by McLaughlin, which was turned over to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office on November 26, 2022, according to chain-of-custody forms.

Yet Deputy Brown later claimed in a phone call with William Storey, a local judge, that he had “just received it” weeks later--an alarming contradiction that raises questions about whether critical evidence was delayed, misplaced, or even tampered with.

The whistleblower who delivered the phone said Brown accused them of “being paid by the family,” which they perceived as an attempt to manufacture probable cause for a criminal impersonation charge. They later issued a verbal complaint to then-Rick Evans, who was serving as sheriff at the time.

Equally troubling, the leaked file contains video evidence of two alleged sexual assaults involving McLaughlin--one at his Clifty residence and another attempted at Cherokee Casino, stopped by a bystander—yet no charges have been filed despite witness statements, hinting at possible bias against victims with substance use histories.

On February 12, 2022, Deputy Fennel recovered the bloodstained clothing from the van at McLaughlin’s property. In an interview, McLaughlin admitted to using methamphetamine with Lierl alongside others but grew evasive about Lierl’s death, saying,

“You know I was stuck on the Don thing, but dude I’m not gonna... I don’t... This whole. So I don’t know. Uh, I have no idea, I think... I’m thinking myself or anybody else that. Um... But you know, I’m gonna stop right there and I don’t think... And I think it could be too big to fail, and that’s where I’m gonna step out,”suggesting a larger conspiracy at play.

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McLaughlin emerges in the affidavit as a central figure, with his property yielding key evidence. Foster’s alleged role in the van theft ties him to the investigation as well, and Fennel’s recovery efforts stand in stark contrast to Brown’s much-criticized missteps.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office now faces a crisis of public trust.

Witnesses have reported intimidation of informants, and community members are increasingly hesitant to cooperate — a dynamic worsened by lingering uncharged assault allegations and the unsettling discovery of unrelated human remains in Kingston on September 9, 2024.

The current sheriff, who inherited this flawed investigation, is struggling to rebuild credibility as the case teeters on collapse.

With the revelations from this leaked affidavit now public, urgent new leads are desperately needed to salvage this troubled and deeply fractured investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at (479) 738-2320, the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or (501) 221-9100, or submit tips anonymously to 1-800-CALL-FBI. The “Jason Lierl – Missing Person” Facebook group can also provide information regarding the family’s $10,000 reward.