PARAGOULD, Ark. — Two defendants arrested after nine children were removed from a Paragould home for alleged neglect and malnutrition have now been sentenced to prison, according to court records.
Beatrice D. Russ entered guilty pleas on June 1 to one count of second-degree domestic battery, a Class C felony, and four counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, Class D felonies.
Following the prosecutor’s recommendations, Second Judicial Circuit Judge Pam Honeycutt sentenced Russ to 72 months in prison on each of the four endangering counts, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively for a total of 24 years. She also received a 120-month suspended imposition of sentence on the domestic battery count and was given credit for 238 days served in jail.
The remaining counts against Russ were nolle prossed. A felony failure-to-appear charge associated with the case was also nolle prossed. Russ may only have DHS-controlled contact with children, according to court records.
Michael A. Harris entered guilty pleas on Sept. 11, 2025, to four counts of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of second-degree domestic battery. He was also sentenced to 72 months in prison on each endangering count, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively for a total of 24 years. Harris received a 120-month suspended imposition of sentence on the battery count.
The case began after authorities said nine children were removed from the home following allegations of neglect and malnutrition.
Between Dec. 19, 2024, and Dec. 22, 2024, the Arkansas Child Abuse Hotline received two separate reports regarding nine children in Paragould between the ages of 1 and 12 who were allegedly not in school, not receiving medical treatment, and not receiving adequate food, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Paragould Police Department. One of the reports alleged that the parents avidly smoked marijuana.
Between Dec. 23, 2024, and Jan. 2, 2025, all nine children were seen at Arkansas Children’s Hospital after being removed by DCFS. All nine were determined by the hospital’s Team for Children At Risk to be at risk for further neglect.
Six of the nine children were diagnosed with child physical neglect. Five were diagnosed with severe malnutrition. One was diagnosed with moderate malnutrition. Three were admitted to the hospital for severe protein-calorie malnutrition.
The affidavit said the children told hospital staff and investigators they were often only given white rice to eat. The report said they had not attended school or been to the doctor or dentist since at least March 2024.
Both defendants tested positive for marijuana in a screen performed by DCFS. The defendants also admitted to DCFS that they had been dodging contact with their workers, according to the affidavit.
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