City and State Digest
The Sentinel-Record 12-16-1977

The first-degree murder trial of Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy has been set for Feb. 22 in Hot Spring County Circuit Court.

Abernathy is charged in the death of Garland County Deputy Linda Edwards, whose skeletal remains were found in February scattered over Jack Mountain in Hot Spring County. She had been missing since August 1976.

Mrs. Edwards reportedly was four months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

Hot Spring County Prosecuting Attorney John Cole Friday said he has set aside two days to try the case but said the proceedings could run longer.

Abernathy, who is free on $50,000 bond and on indefinite suspension from the Hot Springs Police Department, had been the prime suspect since the inception of the case but he was not arrested until July.

Mrs. Edwards was reported missing Aug. 22, 1976, after she failed to return to her babysitter to pick up her two children. Her parked car was found on Arkansas Highway 290.