Bonanza, Arkansas – A quiet community near the Oklahoma border is reeling after a woman and her two young children were found shot to death inside their home, just days after a court hearing in her ongoing divorce case. Authorities say the investigation is active and growing, with search warrants, interviews and forensic work underway.
Tragic Discovery During Welfare Check
Deputies from the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at a residence in the 1100 block of 1st Avenue. When no one answered the door, two individuals who worked at the home allowed deputies inside. There, investigators found 40-year-old Charity Beallis and her two children, both approximately six years old.
Deputies said it was immediately clear all three had gunshot wounds. Autopsies will confirm official causes of death, but investigators say early indications point to a violent attack inside the home.
Search warrants have already been executed, with more expected, and detectives note that multiple interviews have been conducted as information continues to develop.
Divorce Proceedings Underway Days Before the Killings
Local records and media reports reveal that Beallis was in the middle of a divorce from her husband, a local doctor. The couple reportedly appeared in court just two days before she and her children were found dead.
On Wednesday — the same day deputies discovered the bodies — her husband’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the divorce case. Authorities have not named him as a suspect, and no arrests have been made.
Court filings show the marriage had a documented history of violence. In February, Beallis’ husband was arrested for assault after choking her in front of their children. He later pleaded guilty to third-degree battery and was given a one-year suspended sentence along with fines totaling more than $1,500. Beallis filed for divorce in March, citing the incident as grounds for seeking sole custody of the children.
A Public Plea for Help Months Before the Murders
In August, Beallis commented on a Facebook post in an unrelated news story, describing what she called an ongoing struggle with the justice system. Her message reflected deep frustration with how she felt her case had been handled.
She wrote that she had been treated “like the problem,” while the offender — her husband, whom she described as a local doctor — was “being shielded by the very system that’s supposed to protect us.” She said she attempted to contact Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue but was unable to get a response, adding, “My voice, as the victim, has been shut out.”
Her post also warned that failures in the system could place victims and children in danger.
Family Believes Violence Was Not Random
Beallis’ father, Randy Powell, told local reporters he believes his son-in-law is responsible for the killings. He said his daughter feared for her safety and that no one else had a motive to harm her or the children.
“There’s nobody else in the world that had any reason to harm her or those babies but him,” Powell said. “And that was only for the financial gain and the hatred he had.”
Authorities have not confirmed any connection between the divorce proceedings and the murders. Investigators say they are still collecting evidence and pursuing leads.
Community Shock and Questions Ahead
Bonanza is a small town of fewer than 600 residents, and the deaths have stunned neighbors and families throughout the area. Many are waiting for updates as investigators continue piecing together what happened inside the home.
Detectives emphasize that the investigation is ongoing, and additional details are expected as autopsy results, forensic reports, and interviews progress. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
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