Authorities have charged two women, 30-year-old Stacie Nicole Hickman and 43-year-old Tabatha Lynn Pebler in Fulton County following two separate homicides which took place on May 31 and June 1.
According to reports, on May 31, deputies with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence Stonewood Road after receiving a 911 call from Pebler stating she had shot her son.
During an interview with Pebler, she told authorities she had been mowing on the property and had become stuck. She then went to fetch her son, 28-year-old Brandon Chrisco, to help get the mower unstuck.
Pebler told authorities Chrisco was angry she had gotten the mower stuck and when it happened a second time, Chrisco shoved her off the mower.
Pebler said she then went to her vehicle approximately 250 yards away to get her pistol from the vehicle.
“Tabatha said she took the short way to the vehicle and Brandon took the long way. Tabatha said Brandon was still coming after her and she fired several warning shots and then moved towards Brandon and fired a shot,” the affidavit said. “Tabatha said she was not meaning to kill him, she just wanted him to stop.”
Chrisco was struck in the upper left side of his chest by a bullet passing through.
While processing the crime scene, authorities found empty shell casings from the pistol located 17 feet from a tree near Chrisco’s body and another shell casing 18 feet from Pebler’s vehicle which was 70 feet from Chrisco’s body.
“The evidence gathered suggests Tabatha retrieved the firearm from her car, moved 18 feet toward Brandon and fired. Then she moved another 52 feet toward him and fired a fatal shot within 20 feet of Brandon causing his death.”
As a result, Pebler has been charged with murder in the second degree, a class A felony. Her bond was set at $25,000 and she has since bonded out.
The following day, authorities were contacted by a man who stated there was a body lying at his gate located on Briarwood Road.
Fulton County Jake Smith and Lt. William Fawcett responded to the call and found the body of 59-year-old David Southerland.
Southerland had a wound to his back, had been severely beaten to his head, barbed wire was around his neck and an attempt had been made to burn his body.
While investigating, authorities found a can of lighter fluid near Southerland’s body.
On Jun 2, authorities learned on May 30, Hickman borrowed a vehicle before leaving the home and asked Southerland who was present to follow her.
After leaving the property, the caller stated that was the last time he saw Southerland.
The truck which was borrowed was returned the following day around 12 noon.
A resident who resides in a shop building nearby told authorities he heard the truck drive in but did not hear one leave.
The two men both stated Southerland had left in his own white Dodge Caliber car and that Southerland and Hickman were friends.
After Southerland’s body was discovered and it appeared he had been murdered, a theft report was made for Southerland’s vehicle which was spotted late on the evening on June 2 by Salem Police Officer Jim Griffin.
The vehicle was found to be occupied by Hickman and she was placed under arrest.
On June 3, Hickman was interviewed and confessed to shooting and burning Southerland’s body.
She stated the firearm she used was the rifle that was found and seized from the pickup truck she had borrowed days prior.
Hickman stated during the interview Southerland was trying to get some land Hickman stated she was supposed to get.
According to the affidavit, Hickman had also sent a text message to her father May 31, stating “Hey it’s on the property.. have a little issue but I have it taken care of via our loyalty to the land and convo didn’t go well but umm let them know I’ll be there shortly. I’m fixin to pull in.”
As a result, Hickman has been charged with murder in the first degree, a class Y felony; felon in possession of a firearm and abuse of a corpse, a class C felony. Her bond was set at $1,000,000.
Fulton County Sheriff Jake Smith issued a statement following the filing of formal charges on both Pebler and Hickman, “During the week of May 29, 2023 – June 4, 2023, Fulton County had two homicides. Both homicides were solved very quickly. I would like to thank the community and their staff for their cooperation and hard work on both of these cases. I would also like to thank the Arkansas State Police and Salem Police Department for assisting us in the investigation. I want to stress to the community that these were isolated incidents and both individuals arrested knew their victims.”
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
