Pocahontas Police Suspect Murder-Suicide in Death of Three

POCAHONTAS, Ark. — Police believe a double murder-suicide to be the circumstances behind the death of three people found on Monday, Nov. 4, in Pocahontas.

Sgt. Trason Johnson with the Pocahontas Police Department told NEA Report that the initial 911 call came in around 7:45 a.m. on Monday at the 2000 block of Hospital Drive. The sister of the adult male involved had gone to check on the family after being unable to reach them the day prior. When she arrived at the home, she realized something was wrong and called 911.

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Officers arrived and quickly determined three people in the home were deceased. After securing the scene, police requested assistance from Arkansas State Police.

All signs from both investigating agencies pointed to a double murder and suicide, Sgt. Johnson said on Wednesday. It appeared between 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, the father killed both his wife and his 14-year-old son. Both were dead from apparent gunshot wounds. The father appeared to be deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.

There were prior known domestic issues at the address, police said.

Police identified the adult male as Nick Dawsey. The female victim was identified as Hannah Dawsey. The name of the 14-year-old victim was not released.

Bodies have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, per standard procedure.

Authorities sought to release more information on Wednesday to preserve the memory of the juvenile male and Hannah, Sgt. Johnson said. Despite some false rumors, investigators say all the evidence supports that it was a murder-suicide by the father.

Prosecuting Attorney Devon Holder also commented on the tragic nature of the case.

“It’s just a gut-wrenching situation,” Holder said. “It makes me sick to my stomach to think that this happened. We don’t have any evidence indicating anything except the father killed his wife and son, and then killed himself.”

Earlier in the week, Pocahontas schools posted an update grieving the loss of the 14-year-old who attended classes there.