By JERRY DEAN Arkansas Democrat  March 6, 1979 The state Supreme Court Monday issued two procedural rules in cases involving slayings of police officers in Garland and Washington counties. The court ordered a Washington Circuit Court to allow James Ray … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 3-6-1979 Hot Spring County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Harmon said Monday he will have to re-evaluate the first-degree murder case of Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy in view of a ruling in the case earlier … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 3-16-1979 Hot Spring County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Harmon said Thursday he will confer with the Arkansas State Police before deciding whether to try Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy on a first-degree murder charge. “I … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 3-23-1979 A decision on whether Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy will be tried on a first-degree murder charge is expected to be announced today at 1:30 p.m. press conference at the Hot Spring … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 3-24-1979 MALVERN– Seventh Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Dan Harmon said Friday he will nol pros a first-degree murder charge against Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy then submit the case to the Hot Spring County … Continue reading →

The Sentinel-Record 3-24-1979 Hot Springs Police Chief Grover Douglas said Friday Det. Lt. Thurman Abernathy will be eligible to seek reinstatement to the department when a first-degree murder charge against him is nol prossed next week. Seventh Judicial District Prosecuting … Continue reading →

By LARRY AULT ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT ARKADELPHIA BUREAU MARCH 24, 1979 MALVERN – A first-degree murder charge against Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy, charged with the death of Linda Edwards, a Garland County sheriff’s deputy who disappeared in August 1976, will … Continue reading →

NOTE THIS ARTICLE IS NOT RELATED TO MY MOTHER’S CASE, JUST AN INTERESTING ARTICLE REGARDING POSSIBLE CORRUPTION IN HOT SPRING COUNTY. The Sentinel-Record 3-27-1979 Malvern, Ark. (AP) – The Little Rock office of the FBI confirmed Monday that Hot Spring … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 4-3-1979 A motion to dismiss a first-degree murder charge against Hot Springs Lt. Thurman Abernathy will be filed Wednesday in Hot Spring County Circuit Court, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Harmon said Monday. Harmon announced over a … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 5-9-1979 Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randall Williams has been appointed to preside over a Hot Spring County Grand Jury that will hear evidence concerning a first-degree murder charge against Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 6-1-1979 Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randall Williams Thursday said June 15 has been tentatively set as the empanelment date of a Hot Spring County Grand Jury that will hear evidence concerning a first-degree murder charge … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 6-8-1979 Evidence concerning a first degree murder charge against Hot Springs police Lt. Thurman Abernathy will be presented to a Hot Spring County Grand Jury next Friday morning, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Harmon said Thursday. Harmon … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 6-15-1979 Two witnesses have been subpoenaed to testify today before a Hot Spring County Grand Jury that will be presented with evidence by Prosecutor Dan Harmon, who is seeking a first-degree murder indictment against Hot … Continue reading →

By BENNIE IVORY The Sentinel-Record 6-17-1979 MALVERN– The Hot Spring County Grand Jury voted unanimously Friday not to return a first-degree murder indictment against Hot Springs Police Lt. Thurman Abernathy for the 1976 death of Garland County Deputy Sheriff Linda Edwards. The Grand Jury reached the decision after listening to just over … Continue reading →

By REX HOGAN The Sentinel-Record 6-20-1979 Hot Springs Civil Service Commissioners are expected June 28 to approve a petition lifting the two-year suspension of former policeman Lt. Thurman Abernathy, who wants to rejoin the city force. City Attorneys Curtis Ridgeway … Continue reading →

By LARRY AULT DEMOCRAT ARKADELPHIA BUREAU 6-23-79 HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs police officer suspended from his job for two years while charged with the first-degree murder of a Garland County sheriff’s deputy has asked to be reinstated to … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 6-28-1979 The Civil Service Commission may not vote today on whether to lift the two-year suspension of city policeman Lt. Thurman Abernathy. Commission Chairman Joe Poe said Wednesday commissioners had not received documents confirming … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 6-29-1979 The Hot Springs Civil Service Commission took no action Thursday on former police Lt. Thurman Abernathy’s request for reinstatement. Commission Chairman Joe Poe said the commission has not received documents confirming reports that … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 7-17-1979 The Hot Springs Civil Service Commission probably will lift the two-year suspension of former police Lt. Thurman Abernathy, when it meets at noon today at the Holiday Inn East, 1125 East Grand. Commission … Continue reading →

By REX HOGAN The Sentinel-Record 7-18-79 Members of the Hot Springs Civil Service Commission Tuesday voted unanimously to end former police lieutenant Thurman Abernathy’s two-year suspension and directed he be “notified to report to duty immediately.” The five-man board last … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 7-19-1979 City detectives are investigating an apparent death threat made Wednesday against recently reinstated Hot Springs police officer Thurman Abernathy. The threat, made during a telephone call to The Sentinel-Record, came about 11:20 a.m. … Continue reading →

By SUZIE SIEGEL The Sentinel-Record 7-19-1979 Police Chief Grover Douglas Wednesday demoted newly reinstated Thurman Abernathy from the rank of lieutenant to sergeant on the charge of conduct unbecoming an officer. Although the disciplinary move goes back to 1977, Douglas … Continue reading →

City and State Digest The Sentinel-Record 8-3-1979 The Hot Springs Civil Service Commission will hear a protest from recently reinstated police officer Thurman Abernathy on Aug. 10. Commission Chairman Joe Poe said the date was set during the commission’s Wednesday … Continue reading →

By BEVERLY MOORE The Sentinel-Record 8-5-1979 The Hot Springs City Council will consider an ordinance to grant police Sgt. Thurman Abernathy $14,854.94 in back pay in its 7:30 p.m. meeting Monday at the Municipal Building. Abernathy was reinstated to the … Continue reading →

By BEVERLY MOORE The Sentinel-Record 8-7-1979 The Hot Springs City Council Monday night unanimously approved $14,854.94 in back pay to Hot Springs Police Department Sgt. Thurman Abernathy. Abernathy was paid for the period from July 7, 1977 to July 17, … Continue reading →

By Rex Hogan The Sentinel-Record 8-10-79 Thurman Abernathy, the former police lieutenant charged two years ago with the death of a Hot Springs woman, hand delivered a resignation letter Thursday to police Chief Grover Douglas. Shortly thereafter, the 12-year police … Continue reading →

By REX HOGAN The Sentinel-Record 8-16-1979 Gladys Irene Browning, the mother of Linda Edwards, has filed a civil suit in Garland County Circuit Court, alleging former city policeman Thurman Abernathy is responsible for her daughter’s death and seeks a court … Continue reading →