Suspect charged in case of body buried under shed

A Texarkana, Ark., man accused of burying a body beneath the floor of his backyard shed has been formally charged with abuse of a corpse by Miller County prosecutors in connection with a 2017 missing person case.

Chad Jernigan, 41, allegedly told investigators in 2017 that he dropped Richard York on Summerhill Road in Texarkana, Texas, the night of July 4, 2017, following a "verbal disturbance," according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. York's mother claimed her son had not been seen since that night when she made a missing person report July 17, 2017, to Texarkana, Texas, police.

"A consensual search of Jernigan's residence at that time did not reveal anything suspicious," the affidavit states.

In July of this year, Texarkana, Ark., police received tips that York had died at Jernigan's residence in the 4900 block of Union Road and that Jernigan concealed the corpse beneath his outdoor shed. Texarkana, Ark., detectives attempted to make contact with Jernigan at his home July 26, but he would not answer the door. Concern that Jernigan might be armed led officers to set up surveillance around the home. That night, Jernigan left his residence in his truck shortly before 10 p.m. with Texarkana, Ark., officers following.

Jernigan allegedly drove onto East Street and onto a county road before merging onto Interstate 49, where he allegedly began driving at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Jernigan's driving eventually led to a traffic stop and arrest for misdemeanor reckless driving within the Texarkana, Ark., city limits. While in an interview room at the Bi-State Justice Building in downtown Texarkana, Jernigan allegedly told detectives that York had been at his home on July 4, 2017, and "died for an unknown reason."

"York died while in a two-story shed in the backyard," the affidavit states. "Jernigan said he was scared and didn't want to call the police, so he pulled the flooring up from the shed, exposing the bare earth underneath."

Jernigan allegedly told detectives he buried York under the shed, poured concrete on top of him and replaced the flooring.

Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Potter Barrett, who filed the formal charge of abuse of a corpse against Jernigan last week, said that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed later. Jernigan is being held in the Miller County jail with bail set at $150,000. If convicted of abuse of a corpse, Jernigan faces three to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Brent Haltom.

 

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