A Batesville man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder following the discovery of two women’s bodies at a mobile home in Independence County earlier this year, according to court documents.
On April 15, 2025, deputies responded to a welfare check request at a mobile home on Old Camp Road after a caller reported being unable to contact Patricia Anderson for a week. When deputies arrived, they noticed a foul odor and found the front door unlocked, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Inside, the bodies of two women were discovered—one in the bedroom and another in the kitchen.
After securing the scene, deputies located 39-year-old Timothy John Neal in a camper on the property. According to the affidavit, Neal stated he was unaware of the deaths and claimed his last interaction with the women had been three days earlier. Neal identified the deceased as Patricia Anderson and Teresa Owens, the sole residents of the mobile home. The bodies were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for identification and to determine the cause of death.
Detective Bobby Tate of the Independence County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case. On April 17, the State Crime Lab confirmed the cause of death for both Anderson and Owens as blunt force trauma to the head, the affidavit states. Investigators believe the women were killed on April 8 based on data extracted from Owens’ phone showing active conversations up until approximately 2:30 p.m. that day. Additionally, financial records indicated the last transactions from their accounts occurred on April 7.
A search warrant was executed for the mobile home, and Neal was brought in for questioning. Neal denied involvement, stating he had been living in the camper for a week and had no water or electricity, requiring him to use the mobile home’s resources. However, water usage records revealed a significant spike for several hours on April 13, investigators noted.
Court documents also highlight Neal’s previous involvement with the legal and mental health systems. He had been on a waiting list for admission to the Arkansas State Hospital following an Independence County District Court case but was released into Owens’ custody in July 2024 due to a lack of available beds. Neal had been ordered to attend outpatient treatment, though records show he missed multiple appointments, including one on April 8, the day authorities believe Anderson and Owens were killed. Neal reportedly told Arkansas State Police that he had missed the appointment after arguing with Owens about attending.
Judge Chaney Taylor reviewed the evidence and found probable cause to charge Neal with two counts of first-degree murder. Under Arkansas law, first-degree murder is a Class Y felony, the most serious felony classification in the state.
Neal remains in custody as the investigation continues.