2 former state senators found dead in Arkansas and Oklahoma within days
June 9, 2019 in News by RBN Staff
Source: www.cnn.com
By Faith Karimi
(CNN)Lawmakers in Arkansas and Oklahoma are mourning the loss of two former state senators who were found dead in their homes within a span of two days.
In Arkansas, this week’s fatal shooting of former Republican state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith is being investigated as a homicide, authorities said.
In Oklahoma, former state Sen. Jonathan Nichols was found dead from a gunshot in his home in Norman, about 20 miles from Oklahoma City, according to police.
Authorities have not provided additional details on the apparently unrelated deaths. Investigations are under way in both states.
Linda Collins-Smith
Former Arkansas state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith at the state Capitol in Little Rock in 2015.
Collins-Smith’s body was found Tuesday in her home in Randolph County, Arkansas. She’d been fatally shot, and her death is under investigation as a homicide, CNN affiliate KARK reported.
Collins-Smith, who was a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party, was first elected to the Arkansas Senate in 2014 and lost her party’s primary last year, the Little Rock TV station said.
“She was a passionate voice for her people and a close member of our Republican family. We are praying for her loved ones during this difficult time,” the Arkansas GOP tweeted.
Arkansas GOP
✔@ARGOP
Today, we learned of the untimely death of former Senator Linda Collins Smith. She was a passionate voice for her people and a close member of our Republican family. We are praying for her loved ones during this difficult time.
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Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said he was stunned by her death and expressed his condolences to her loved ones.
“She was a good person who served in the public arena with passion and conviction,” Hutchinson said. “The first lady and I extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends during this difficult time.
