Life without parole sentence for double murderer

(KTLO) A man accused of killing a Flippin couple and stealing their truck pled guilty to the charges against him Tuesday and was sentenced to life in prison without parole.The plea was made in Boone County Circuit Court.

Sixty-four-year-old Dale Mark Stikeleather, who lists an address along Mallard Lane in Flippin, was charged with two counts of capital murder. A number of lesser charges were dropped by the state.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Jeffery and Kimberly Watson were found dead on May 11 in their residence along Mallard Terrace in Flippin.

A number of spent 9-millimeter cartridges were located at the murder scene.

A 2013 Ford pickup truck was missing from the residence. Investigators questioned a number of people living in close proximity to the victims’ residence.

Stikeleather, who was reported to live only about 1/10 of a mile from the scene of the murder, was not questioned because he could not be located.

TRUCK TRACED TO HOUSTON

The missing truck was electronically traced to several locations in the Houston, Texas area. Investigators said information on Stikeleather’s Facebook page indicated that he lived in the Houston area at one time.

One of Stikeleather’s relatives said she had not seen him recently, but did provide investigators with a phone number for him.

The suspect’s cellphone was “pinged” and it was also located in the Houston, Texas area and “in close proximity of the last known location of the stolen truck.”

Other evidence also pointed to Stikeleather being in the Houston area. He was located and arrested in the Houston suburb of Sugarland on May 16, according to the probable cause affidavit.

DECISION NOT TO SELL COST TWO LIVES

Stikeleather told investigators he went to the neighbors’ home to ask if he could buy the truck.

When Jeffery Watson told him he did not want to sell the vehicle, Stikeleather is alleged to have pulled a 9-millimeter pistol he was carrying and shot the man.

He said he then went to the back deck and shot Kimberly Watson. Stikeleather is alleged to have also admitted that he grabbed a knife and stabbed the woman.

When Stikeleather was apprehended, he was in possession of the murder victims’ truck and there was a 9-millimeter pistol in the vehicle that the suspect claimed was his.

BAXTER COUNTY CASE

Stikeleather has an open criminal case in Baxter County as well. His charges include theft of property.

In August, Stikeleather is reported to have gone to a Gassville car lot and said he wanted to drive a truck he was interested in to his bank so he could arrange financing.

When he did not return at the agreed time, car lot personnel went to work locating the missing truck.

When found, it was described as being “stuck in an area not intended for vehicle traffic.” Stikeleather was alleged to be intoxicated.

Investigators said Stikeleather “had no intention” of taking the truck to a bank as part of obtaining a loan to purchase the vehicle.

The Baxter County case will be dismissed.