Murder Charge Dismissed Against Man Who Prevailed First in Civil Trial

Originally Published on April 19, 2024

LAKE CITY, Ark. – An Osceola man who was accused of second-degree murder and prevailed last month in a civil trial on the matter has had the criminal charges dropped.

Keith Henderson was 32 when he was arrested for alleged second-degree murder in the death of Chad Decker of Monette in 2022. Craighead County deputies found Decker dead December 6, 2022 on Craighead County Road 510. His injuries involved head trauma and blood coming from his head and face, authorities reported.

Investigators found footage from a Monette gas station where the two men had met and exchanged words around midnight the night before. Henderson was arrested that afternoon.

In addition to facing criminal charges, a civil suit was filed against Henderson by the family of Decker. The suit alleged that Henderson beat Decker and left him for dead. The lawsuit included claims of assault, battery, and wrongful death.

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, a Lake City jury found unanimously in favor of Henderson on all three counts in the case, awarding no damages. Henderson’s lawyer, Randel Miller of Randel Miller Law Firm in Jonesboro, announced the verdict on Thursday, telling NEA Report the jury had cleared Henderson of any responsibility in the death.

“We’re grateful for the unanimous verdict and we look forward to him being able to get on with his life, now,” Miller said.

Miller said he also expects with this verdict being unanimous, the criminal case would dismissed.

“If they can’t prove liability on a civil case, a lower standard of proof, they have no chance of winning a criminal case, proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Miller said.

Prosecutors told NEA Report they would be reviewing the case in the coming days.

On May 21, 2024, the order nolle prosequi was filed, dismissing the murder charge against Henderson.