Deputies find woman’s decomposing body in residence at Hughes

St. Francis County recorded its first two murders of the year on Monday after a man who was shot during a disturbance in Madison Sunday died from his injuries at a Memphis hospital.

Also on Monday, deputies found a missing woman’s decomposing body inside a Hughes residence.

St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May said his department was contacted about 5 p.m., Monday, by the Hughes Police Department, asking deputies to conduct a welfare check on Robin Elizabeth Allmon, 42, of the Hughes area. May said when deputies arrived in Hughes, they learned Allmon had been reported missing to the HPD on Tuesday last week.

“We had no idea there was a missing person in the Hughes area. This was not reported to our department,” said May. “The Hughes Police Department called and wanted us to come over there, so our guys went over and went into a house where they found the body, which had been there for several days. She was wrapped in a sheet and a mattress had been placed on top of her. We believe the suspect had actually been living in the house with the body.”

According to May, Allmon’s body has been sent to the Arkansas Crime Lab for positive identification and to determine the time and cause of death.

May said Allmon’s body was found in a house at 205 Tucker Street, which had been occupied by Maurice Winda, 44, of Hughes, who deputies identified as an acquaintance of the victim.

May said Winda, who was employed with the Hughes Sanitation Department, had not shown up for work the past few days.

He identified Winda as a person of interest in the case, noting the suspect had a history of violence with Allmon. May mentioned an incident in February where Allmon was reportedly hospitalized after allegedly being beaten by Winda. May said criminal records also show Winda has a violent history with women in Missouri.

“We have identified him as a person of interest in this case, and we are looking for him,” said May.

The shooting Sunday occurred about 9:50 a.m., at the Whitaker Manor Apartment Complex in Madison, according to the sheriff’s department’s report.

Jalisha Deshay Banks, 36, 119 Hadley Dr., Madison is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Calvin Smith, 26, 224. N. Gorman, Forrest City.

May said Smith was shot at least twice during an argument with Banks.

Smith was transported to Regional One in Memphis where he reportedly died of his injuries on Monday.

Banks was taken into custody at the scene and originally charged with first-degree battery.

(Continued from Page 1) People at the scene told deputies they saw a man take a pistol from the apartment and place it into a silver Mercedes. Deputies found the weapon “in plain view” on the car’s front seat and took possession of it.

May said the man who handled the weapon could face charges in the case.

On Sunday, Banks was arrested for first-degree battery and placed in the St. Francis County Jail. That charge was upgraded to first-degree murder Monday.

Although these are the first murders reported in the county this year, Forrest City has recorded five murders so far.