Murder suspect previously threatened to kill victim

JONESBORO, Ark. – A woman was murdered early Monday in Jonesboro and a suspect taken into custody. Court records show it wasn’t his first alleged attack on the victim, either. 

Around 2:48 AM, officers were notified of a possible homicide at 411 Krewson Street in Jonesboro. Officers responded in large numbers to the address and cleared the residence. They located the victim, Samantha R. Phillips, 44, of Jonesboro, in the residence. She had suffered severe injuries including contusions and abrasions to the face, broken bones, and a laceration to the neck, the report said. 

A short time later, officers responded to Walgreens, 108 East Highland Drive, where a male had walked in appearing to be in a trance, the report said. He told them to contact police. Andre Alexander Isabell, 45, of Jonesboro, was arrested. He was unarmed at the time of his arrest. 

Isabell is being held on a charge of first degree murder as well as a misdemeanor violation of a no contact order.

The no contact order stemmed from an incident he pleaded guilty to in 2022, an aggravated assault against a family/household member case. He was still on probation from that incident. The probable cause affidavit filed in that case shows that Isabell had brutally beaten the same victim. Specifically, in that instance, he had been accused of holding a knife to the victim’s throat and threatening to kill her. 

On 1/28/2022, Officers were dispatched to the 700 block of West Oak, in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon their arrival they spoke with the victim who had a bloody nose and blood in the white of her eye.

The victim advised that Andre Isabell had woke her up and was on top of her. Isabell then hit her several times with a closed fist. He then held a kitchen knife to her throat and made threats to kill her. The altercation moved into the living room where Isabell hit the victim several more time. Isabell then grabbed her by the throat and started restricting her airway. The victim advised that she was about to pass out.

Officers went to locate Isabell in the 700 block of Warner. Isabell had ran out of the residence and fled through back yards of the neighborhood, jumping fences. He was placed into custody in the 700 block of West Oak. He is now being held at the Craighead County Detention Center.

In that case, he was sentenced to 90 days in county jail with credit for 62 days served and 36 months probation. Prosecutor Jimmy Turnbow handled the case for the state with Judge Chris Thyer presiding as circuit judge. 

Photo courtesy JPD

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