CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. — A woman was killed Tuesday in Marion, Arkansas, and a man is charged in her death, the Crittenden County Sheriff said.
Charles Edward Walker, 52, is charged with first-degree murder. He turned himself in at the sheriff’s office on Wednesday. The sheriff said Walker had a history with law enforcement.
The victim was identified by family as 54-year-old Brenda Strickland, a mother of four with three grandchildren.
“She was the sweetest person in the world,” said Strickland’s sister, Kay Pledge.
They said she was killed at the Comfort Inn in Marion, where they also say she worked. Family said domestic violence may have been involved.
“I got a call from my nephew stating that my sister was found in a pool of blood,” said sister Jeannette Kaszczyszyn.
Family members say they haven’t heard anything from Marion Police.
“No one has knocked on our door. When I got the news I got it from my children,” Pledge said. “It’s very painful, it’s very hurtful.”
The department did not respond to requests for information from WREG. Investigators have released few details about the case.
Thursday, a woman we talked to at the motel wouldn’t comment about the alleged murder but did confirm Strickland worked at the location.
Strickland’s sisters say Walker has constantly abused Strickland, but every time he was arrested, he easily bailed out of jail.
“The justice and the system have failed me because I feel in my heart I did everything I could do,” Kaszczyszyn said.
Heartbroken, they have a warning for others.
“If someone is abusing you, please get out of that situation,” Pledge said. “Please get out of that situation.”
