Joe Lee Richards Jr.
Marissa Wright
BENTON, Ark. (KTHV) -- Authorities say one of the bodies found buried at a Traskwood home is Joe Lee Richards, Jr. Homeowner Marissa Wright is under arrest.
Capital murder charges have been filed against Wright, 50, in relation to the disappearance of Richards. She was taken into custody without incident at a local hospital.
In 1989, Wright was arrested for murder but was turned into a state's witness against Frank Pilcher who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Jeff Rhoades.
In a press release from Benton Police, this investigation centered on Richard's missing person report filed in October of 2010. His family was concerned when he disappeared without a trace and leaving his personal belongings behind. Recent information recently let them to the home in Traskwood.
The Benton Police, in conjunction with the Saline County Sheriff's Office, FBI, Haskell Police, AR Game and Fish, State Police, and the AR State Crime Lab, served a search warrant relating to the disappearance of Richards Monday.
Police got more information from that search and that led to another search warrant issued for Wednesday at the home on West Main Street Friday.
During that search, authorities found two bodies near the home. One set of remains is positively identified as being Richards. The Benton Police Dept. is continuing the investigation into Richard's death and the Saline County Sheriff's office will work on identifying the other body.
This is an ongoing investigation, but anyone with other information is strongly encouraged to contact either the Saline County Sheriff's Offiec at (501) 303-5608 or the Benton Police Dept. at (501) 778-1171 or (501) 315-TIPS.
THV's Wayne Cross is there and we will have the latest on "Today's THV at 6:00" and todaysthv.com.