The Benton Police Department (BNPD) responded to Country Oaks Apartments around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 17, for a welfare check after a juvenile was brought to a Little Rock hospital for a gunshot wound. BNPD and Little Rock Police Department detectives determined that Demontra Hatfield, age 39, shot and killed Krystle Wilder, age 28, in their Benton apartment during a disturbance, then fled the scene with the juvenile – and Wilder’s body – before committing another homicide in Little Rock.
Hatfield is charged with:
- First Degree Murder, (Class Y felony), for the death of Wilder;
- Abuse of a Corpse (Class C felony);
- Possession of Firearm by Certain Persons (Class B felony);
- Tampering with Physical Evidence (Class D felony); and
Endangering the Welfare of a Minor 1st (Class D felony).
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. Hatfield faces separate charges out of Little Rock in reference to that investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-776-5947. You can also text “BENTONPD plus your message” to 847411 or leave a tip via the official BNPD app.