FCSO still investigating murder of Thomas brothers

Faulkner County Sheriff's Office investigators are still investigating the April 14 shooting of two brothers at a rural home in northeast Faulkner County.

Elroy Thomas, 41, of Quitman, called 9-1-1 at about 2:20 p.m. on April 14 from a property at 101 Clear Creek Road saying he'd been shot. Police arrived to find Thomas laying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. His brother, Jeffery Thomas, 42, of Conway, was dead with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Elroy Thomas died while being transported by air ambulance.

The two men were shot by 45-year-old Eric Dean Starnes, who told investigators that the Thomas brothers and another man identified as Weldon Ray Ford entered his home while he was asleep and assaulted him. Starnes said he shot the brothers in self defense. Ford fled in a vehicle and was later identified and questioned in Conway.

Starnes was taken into custody on the day of the incident and questioned. He was released that night, and has not been charged with a crime. Ford was also released that day, and has not been charged.

The case is being investigated by Sgt. Joni Danielson of FCSO's Major Crime Unit. Danielson said Wednesday that she is wrapping up the investigation, but couldn't comment on when it may be finished.

20th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Marcus Vaden is in possession of a case file a few hundred pages thick, but is waiting for the final pieces of evidence before making a decision as to whether Starnes or Ford will be charged with any crime.

(Staff writer Joe Lamb can be reached at 505-1238 or by E-mail at joe.lamb@thecabin.net. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit.)