LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas woman was charged Monday with capital murder in the killing of a former state senator whose body was found outside her own home.
Collins, who went by Collins-Smith in the Legislature, was found dead June 4 outside her home in Pocahontas, which is about 130 miles northeast of Little Rock. A former Collins spokesman said O'Donnell was friends with Collins, and court records show that O'Donnell was a witness in the former lawmaker's divorce proceedings. Collins divorced retired Circuit Judge Philip Smith last year and the two were in the middle of a court fight over their properties.
Tim Loggains, O'Donnell's fiancé, proclaimed her innocence and said they"both loved Linda and tirelessly gave our time and energy to support her, in every way." Loggains was granted power of attorney for Collins during her divorce proceedings.