SUNDAY FOCUS : Minton case still a mystery
Posted on Sunday, June 1, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/62334/
Ayear later, police and prosecutors still remain closed mouth about many facts surrounding the disappearance and suspected murder of Alicia Minton.
Minton, 29, was last seen on June 1, 2007, at Enterprise Rent-A-Car on West Walnut Street in Rogers. It’s believed she was going to Beaver Lake when she disappeared. She was wearing a red bikini, a tank top, dark-colored shorts and pink flipflops.
Authorities believe Minton was murdered and her body dumped in Beaver Lake. Police have identified a suspect — Minton’s former boyfriend Randall Todd Greenway.
The case is being investigated by the Rogers Police Department and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have not disclosed why they suspect Greenway’s possible involvement and that Minton’s body is in the lake.
“ We cannot comment on specific details of the case because we do not want to harm the investigation, ” Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone said.
Stone, along with Capt. Ron Largent, head of the Criminal Investigation Division for the Rogers Police Department, and Chris Sparks, an investigator with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, are working on the case.
“ To my knowledge, we have no credible information in this case file that she could be alive and somewhere else, ” Largent said.
Following Minton’s disappearance, the Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Crawford County Search and Rescue were involved in searches at Beaver Lake.
Francis Carson of Louisiana brought sonar equipment to aid in the search. Texas EquuSearch, a nonprofit search and rescue organization, brought in boats and sonar equipment. The Missouri Water Patrol and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol also had men and equipment involved in the search.
Idaho resident Gene Ralston was the latest searcher to bring his boat and sonar equipment to search areas of the lake.
Minton’s body has not been located, but searchers found a purse that was identified as Minton’s.
Neither Stone, Sparks nor Largent could comment on what evidence led them to the lake.
Stone, Sparks and Largent also declined to comment on questions concerning Greenway.
Last year, police and Sheriff’s Office deputies identified Greenway as a suspect weeks after Minton’s disappearance.
Police believe Minton was last seen with Greenway. That information is contained in court documents dated June 8, 2007. Some documents — including the search warrant for Greenway’s home — remain under seal. Police seized Greenway’s boat in connection with the investigation, but Sparks could not comment on whether any evidence was retrieved from the boat.
Prosecutors also attained subpoenas for Minton’s and Greenway’s cell-phone records.
Largent could not comment on what police may have learned from the cellphone records.
Stone could not comment on when or if murder charges would be filed against Greenway.
Stone did say prosecutors could try a suspect in Minton’s murder, even if her body is not located.
“ Cases without bodies have been done many times nationally, ” Stone said.
Sparks said law enforcement is still interested in the areas around Deer and Bear islands and a water-intake system on the lake.
“ We can assure the public that both police and prosecutors are working hard and tracking down any information, ” Stone said. “ We want to keep this case in the public’s mind in case someone knows something. ” History related to the case
Greenway was cited for speeding while driving west on Arkansas Highway 12 on the day of Minton’s disappearance. At 6: 25 p. m. June 1, a Sheriff’s Office deputy clocked Greenway traveling at 109 mph in a 45-mph zone on Arkansas 12. He was westbound, riding a 2004 red Yamaha motorcycle. A Rogers police officer stopped Greenway at Second and Locust streets, where Greenway was given citations for speeding, no vehicle license and no motorcycle endorsement.
In 2006, Minton was dating Greenway, and she told Rogers police in June 2006 that he’d dragged her by the hair and beat her, according to an arrest report. He was ultimately convicted of disorderly conduct in a plea agreement in Rogers District Court.
In February 2007, Minton reported to Rogers police that Greenway kept showing up at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where she worked, and had threatened her by phone, according to police records.
In June 2007, Greenway, 36, was sentenced to 20 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction after pleading guilty to drug charges.