On November 21, 2021, the Jonesboro Police Department responded to an unresponsive person in the 2200 block of Clover Drive. Officers found Sabrina Benson lying on the floor of the hallway. She was transported to NEA Baptist Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased a short time after arrival.
Officers on the scene were able to speak with Benson’s fiancé, Shadrack Ward. Mr. Ward was able to tell officers that he and Benson had a couple of friends over and were drinking earlier in the day. Ward advised that after everyone left, he had heard Ms. Benson call his name, and when he went to check on her, she was on the floor unconscious.
Ms. Benson’s body was sent to the State Crime Lab for an autopsy. The preliminary results revealed that Ms. Benson died as a result of strangulation.
Investigator Bill Brown interviewed Mr. Ward again and he revealed that he and Ms. Benson had gotten into an argument. He grabbed her neck and held her until she became unconscious, which resulted in her death.
Mr. Ward appeared before Judge David Boling for his probable cause hearing and received a $5,000,000 cash surety bond. He is currently being held at the Craighead County Detention Center.