A suspicious death investigation in Little Rock turns homicide after an autopsy appears to prove it was intentional.
The victim leaves behind 5 children, one younger than 2 years old.
34-year-old Katrina Hampton’s body was originally found by her mother Sunday.
The family tells us she was loving and caring and they’re deeply hurt by the loss.
While the cause of death has not been released, the manner of death is murder.
The person responsible is on the run as of Tuesday evening.
Back on Sunday, Little Rock Police tell us the mother of 5 couldn’t be reached over the weekend.
That’s when Hampton’s mother and brother went to her house, forced their way inside and found Katrina dead.
“My first thought was just ‘ok something’s wrong,'” neighbor Betsy Orme said.
Orme saw police as they rushed to the house Sunday.
“You know, in times you hate to admit it but, I wasn’t surprised that something serious was happening,” she said.
Orme and Hampton’s boys used to play together.
“He was really friendly and very generous,” Orme said.
But in the past, Orme says she witnessed some heated moments outside the home on West 34th St.
“There had been interactions and dramatic interactions there at the house before and my gut reaction was thinking this was probably not a good incident, something’s probably very wrong,” Orme said.
Police have not identified a suspect or the cause of death in Hampton’s case.
Neighbors are left shaken up and wishing things could have turned out differently.
“Living down the road you kind of doubt yourself. Could I have done more? Could I have called or said something or helped?” she said.
Along with searching for the murder suspect, LRPD are also looking into a case brought against Hampton a few weeks ago on January 2, 2018.
According to court documents she was arrested for burglarizing a neighbors home and being uncooperative with officers.
An order of no contact was issued just three weeks ago.
She was originally due back in court in March.
In the meantime, her family, neighbors and police are asking for any information that may help identify and catch her killer.
“I hope there’s justice and I hope there’s healing that comes from this,” Orme said.
