Arkansas State Police File Corpse Abuse Charges Against Suspect Already in Custody

A Lonoke man is facing charges after authorities discovered a man's body in a wooded area near a home on Joe Baty Road.

According to the Arkansas State Police, 32-year-old Claude Smith Jr. has been charged with Abuse of a Corpse. Smith was already being held at the Pulaski County Detention Center on unrelated charges when the new charge was filed.

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This investigation began a bit like a crime show on Netflix, on Saturday, October 3, when the Lonoke County Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division after human remains were found near a mobile home.

Investigators say the victim's body had been dismembered and believe the man was killed in another state before being transported to Arkansas.

READ MORE: 4-Year-Old Arkansas Girl Dies After Abuse; 2 Charged with Murder

The remains have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, where the Medical Examiner will try to confirm the victim's identity and determine the cause of death and in what manner the man died. Let's hope they can identify the man and let his family know what happened to him.

The homicide investigation will be handled by law enforcement in the state where the killing occurred, while Arkansas State Police will investigate any crimes believed to have taken place in Arkansas.

Smith was previously arrested back on September 19 following a pursuit involving the North Little Rock Police Department. Police say he was driving a vehicle that belonged to the victim when he fled from officers.

Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues. Authorities have not released any further information at this time.