LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A man pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder on Monday, according to the Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Henry Boyce.
Rickey D. Crawford, Jr., 41, of Campbell Station, was sentenced to 60 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
He will not be eligible for release until he is at least 100 years old, according to a news release. Under Arkansas law, Crawford is classified as a “Serious Violent Felon” due to his criminal history and, therefore, not eligible for early release.
The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred in Campbell Station on November 11, 2017. Crawford’s wife, Amanda Michelle Crawford, 33, was found dead in her home from multiple stab wounds. Her unborn child also died.
Crawford had jumped in front of Diaz police officer’s moving police cruiser in an apparent suicide attempt after fleeing the scene of the murders. The officer requested assistance and a spontaneous statement made by Crawford at the scene of his attempted suicide implicated him as having stabbed his wife. Her body was found in the family home shortly thereafter.
Boyce said, “This case involved one of the most heinous acts I have seen in my career as a prosecutor. The victim’s family wanted closure to this matter without the necessity of a trial and this plea satisfies their wishes.”