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United States of True Crime: Arkansas: The Most Chilling Crimes in All 50 States
United States of True The Most Chilling Cases In All 50 States
United States of True Crime is an anthology series with books devoted to the most disturbing cases in each of the 50 states. This book focuses on ten of the most chilling crimes in Arkansas history.
The cases included in this
Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols, and Jessie Infamously known as the West Memphis Three, the three teenagers were convicted of murdering three eight-year-old boys. After eighteen years in prison all three men were released after the discovery of new DNA evidence and potential juror misconduct.
Mary Lee While under investigation for the murder of her third husband, she hired a hitman to execute her lawyer’s wife. Although her motive for the execution is still unclear, she was convicted for both murders.
Travis Demented man convicted of murdering two cousins in 1996. Throughout his time in prison, he corresponded with one of his victim’s daughters, maintaining his innocence. Upon his release in 2020 he bludgeoned that daughter of his first victim to death on the same property where he killed her mother and cousin.
Andrew Golden and Mitchell Were just eleven and thirteen years old, respectively, when they ambushed their school in a savage attack that left five dead and ten wounded.
Debra Sue Convicted of suffocating her daughter, and accused of killing four of her sons over an eight year period. She disguised her crimes as accidents for years to garner sympathy as a grieving mother.
James Abducted a young mother from her home while her four year old son was in the other room. He was convicted of sexually assaulting, murdering, and dumping his victim three miles from her home.
Texarkana “Phantom Killer”: Still unsolved case of a killer who targeted couples during a ten week reign of terror in 1946. Eight were attacked and five perished at the hands of the elusive murderer.
Charles Ray Serial killer who during the day was a well-liked father in his Fort Smith community while he moonlighted as a monster. He raped four women, murdering two of them and then desecrated the corpses.
Dorthy Jean Nurse who abused, robbed, then fatally poisoned multiple of her elderly patients.
Ronald Gene Simmons Brutally murdered fourteen members of his family including a child he fathered with one of his own daughters. He then continued his rampage in town, executing two more innocent victims and wounding two others.
If you’re a true crime enthusiast who enjoys reading about some of the most depraved monsters in our country, you will love United States of True Crime.
Scroll up to get your copy
United States of True Crime is an anthology series with books devoted to the most disturbing cases in each of the 50 states. This book focuses on ten of the most chilling crimes in Arkansas history.
The cases included in this
Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols, and Jessie Infamously known as the West Memphis Three, the three teenagers were convicted of murdering three eight-year-old boys. After eighteen years in prison all three men were released after the discovery of new DNA evidence and potential juror misconduct.
Mary Lee While under investigation for the murder of her third husband, she hired a hitman to execute her lawyer’s wife. Although her motive for the execution is still unclear, she was convicted for both murders.
Travis Demented man convicted of murdering two cousins in 1996. Throughout his time in prison, he corresponded with one of his victim’s daughters, maintaining his innocence. Upon his release in 2020 he bludgeoned that daughter of his first victim to death on the same property where he killed her mother and cousin.
Andrew Golden and Mitchell Were just eleven and thirteen years old, respectively, when they ambushed their school in a savage attack that left five dead and ten wounded.
Debra Sue Convicted of suffocating her daughter, and accused of killing four of her sons over an eight year period. She disguised her crimes as accidents for years to garner sympathy as a grieving mother.
James Abducted a young mother from her home while her four year old son was in the other room. He was convicted of sexually assaulting, murdering, and dumping his victim three miles from her home.
Texarkana “Phantom Killer”: Still unsolved case of a killer who targeted couples during a ten week reign of terror in 1946. Eight were attacked and five perished at the hands of the elusive murderer.
Charles Ray Serial killer who during the day was a well-liked father in his Fort Smith community while he moonlighted as a monster. He raped four women, murdering two of them and then desecrated the corpses.
Dorthy Jean Nurse who abused, robbed, then fatally poisoned multiple of her elderly patients.
Ronald Gene Simmons Brutally murdered fourteen members of his family including a child he fathered with one of his own daughters. He then continued his rampage in town, executing two more innocent victims and wounding two others.
If you’re a true crime enthusiast who enjoys reading about some of the most depraved monsters in our country, you will love United States of True Crime.
Scroll up to get your copy
- GenresTrue CrimeNonfiction
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2022
72 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 13, 2025
This is just another good addition to the series. I was drawn in by the cases discussed in this book. I wish there was more background on the murders, but I figure the information I got in this book, I can then go do research myself.
January 2, 2023
Pretty good
The cases offered were interesting but not all that chilling.
Yes the cases offered did show some horrible people, didn't seem to go deep enough into the murderers psychology.
I would have liked to see more of the background on the childhood of the people.
Working with criminals does make me a little more in background than most people.
Will I read more of MS Hudson's books? Yes.
The cases offered were interesting but not all that chilling.
Yes the cases offered did show some horrible people, didn't seem to go deep enough into the murderers psychology.
I would have liked to see more of the background on the childhood of the people.
Working with criminals does make me a little more in background than most people.
Will I read more of MS Hudson's books? Yes.
true-crime-books
November 4, 2022True crime in Arkansas
Having lived in Arkansas my entire life, I was particularly interested in the true crimes covered in this volume. Some, of course, I was aware of, but I learned much about the cases from this book.
Arkansas is noted for being the only one of the 50 states where you can find diamonds in the ground. I have no doubt that Arkansas is also unique for the strange and chilling case of Ronald Gene Simmons. There are many misconceptions about Simmons, that he was psychotic or insane. In truth, Simmons was a man with a plan that included the death penalty.
39
Having lived in Arkansas my entire life, I was particularly interested in the true crimes covered in this volume. Some, of course, I was aware of, but I learned much about the cases from this book.
Arkansas is noted for being the only one of the 50 states where you can find diamonds in the ground. I have no doubt that Arkansas is also unique for the strange and chilling case of Ronald Gene Simmons. There are many misconceptions about Simmons, that he was psychotic or insane. In truth, Simmons was a man with a plan that included the death penalty.
39
August 17, 2023
I’ve only ever found these as audiobooks and I struggle with the cadence of the author, but I’m not a fan of audiobooks. I just keep buying this series because it’s $2 and I hope I’ll hear of something I hadn’t heard of before.
Everything in this series is short and is basically an overview of a state’s most popular crimes…when all 50 states are finished, it’ll add up to be the length of a normal book, so I’m hesitant to keep buying them as there’s nothing new presented that I don’t already know (as someone who follows true crime). If you’re looking for the overall picture without any critical analysis, this is great for that.
Everything in this series is short and is basically an overview of a state’s most popular crimes…when all 50 states are finished, it’ll add up to be the length of a normal book, so I’m hesitant to keep buying them as there’s nothing new presented that I don’t already know (as someone who follows true crime). If you’re looking for the overall picture without any critical analysis, this is great for that.
March 3, 2025
This book was okay. The chapters felt rushed to me. There was such a small bit of information for each story I don’t really remember much from the book. As an Arkansas native, I also picked up on a couple geographical inaccuracies. I did enjoy learning about a few Arkansas true crime stories I hadn’t heard of before. For a short true crime audiobook, this was fine. I just wish there was a little more depth to each story. But overall, it was an interesting listen.
March 15, 2025
Pretty riveting read!!
I read the whole book, from start to finish in 1 setting!! Several of the murders, unfortunately , were very familiar to me!! Due to the area ,where I grew up!! In fact my ex-father in law was mentioned as an investigator in one. Great read, if you are a true crime buff!! Good job ms.hudson!!
I read the whole book, from start to finish in 1 setting!! Several of the murders, unfortunately , were very familiar to me!! Due to the area ,where I grew up!! In fact my ex-father in law was mentioned as an investigator in one. Great read, if you are a true crime buff!! Good job ms.hudson!!
March 25, 2023
Fantastic. I’m sure there are enough stories to make a few volumes of this series.
The author/narrator does well enough getting the summary of the story across - never dwelling too long on any one case.
That last one: wow, what a doozy. I look forward to the rest of the states.
The author/narrator does well enough getting the summary of the story across - never dwelling too long on any one case.
That last one: wow, what a doozy. I look forward to the rest of the states.
August 13, 2022
Chilling crimes
The things people do to each other amazes me it's me thank you Ashley Hudson for writing and research. Keep up the good work
The things people do to each other amazes me it's me thank you Ashley Hudson for writing and research. Keep up the good work
August 8, 2023
It was rather interesting.
August 9, 2023
It wasn’t my favorite in the series. The stories mentioned were interesting but it left me feeling incomplete.
September 25, 2023
I really liked this book, going to get the other states now!
October 1, 2023
This book was very informative. I only knew of one case that was covered so it was nice to learn as I read. I'm interested in reading about all 50 states.
April 5, 2024
Fantastic true crime writer
Takes cases that have been told to death and puts a new spin on them. Wish she had gone more than 8 states.
Takes cases that have been told to death and puts a new spin on them. Wish she had gone more than 8 states.
October 29, 2025
Short and interesting. It's more of a digest rather than a fully fledged book, but still hits the highlights.
Justice for the West Memphis three, both the murdered children and those accused of the crime.
Justice for the West Memphis three, both the murdered children and those accused of the crime.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews