An Arkansas man was arrested over the weekend with the homicide of his spouse who was discovered shot to demise in her automotive within the spring of 2021.
Jason Ross Dunigan, 39, stands accused of capital homicide over the Could 28, 2021, demise of 36-year-old Amber Dunigan, whose physique was discovered inside her parked automotive alongside Arkansas Freeway 16 late at evening.
On the time, native media reported that the defendant was a part of the grieving household that “need[ed] solutions” about Amber Dunigan’s demise.
Now, in line with courtroom paperwork cited by native NBC/Fox affiliate KNWA/KFTA, Jason Dunigan was able to know all alongside.
A prison info submitted to the Fourth Judicial District Courtroom on Feb. 17, 2022, alleges that “the defendant shot his spouse within the head” and that he dedicated the alleged crime “with the premeditated and deliberated function of inflicting the demise of one other individual.”
The defendant used a shotgun in an effort to money in on his spouse’s $300,000 life insurance coverage coverage, authorities now declare.
An arrest warrant was issued the following day on what the Pure State calls Capital Homicide, a category Y felony, and the suspected husband was arrested the following day in Farmington, Ark.
The sufferer’s physique was initially believed to have been found by her father-in-law, James Dunigan, at round 10 p.m., after she failed to return residence on time. The route he traveled to search out the terrible scene was well-known to him and different members of their household, he stated, as a result of Amber Dunigan steadily took that street between two hair salons that she managed.
“She ought to have been residence by round 8:30, however after she didn’t present up we went searching for her,” he instructed the TV station. “We referred to as 911, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace responded, after which Arkansas State Police arrived.”
“It could possibly be a tragic accident, or it could possibly be an intentional murder,” the father-in-law added in June of that yr, simply after the household laid down flowers in her honor. “We’re simply in a ready mode proper now.”
Investigators now say, nonetheless, that Jason Dunigan was the primary individual to name 911 and that he solely belatedly referred to the deceased lady within the automotive as his spouse after Arkansas State Police Trooper Jeff Richardson arrived on the scene.
In response to police, the husband stated “he had met the sufferer at that spot earlier within the night” as a result of mechanical points together with his personal automotive however left and drove again residence, later turning into “involved” when she didn’t observe him again. That’s when Jason Dunigan referred to as his dad and mom and the trio drove out to search out the girl useless inside her automotive, legislation enforcement now claims.
Close to Amber Dunigan’s head, and in the end instrumental to the the investigation, was a small piece of inexperienced material that, police say, “gave the impression to be similar to the material used on the suspect’s work shirts.” Authorities now consider that Jason Dunigan used one in every of his shirts “to muffle the sound of a gunshot.”
A witness later instructed police that the publicly-grieving husband was privately complaining that Supercuts wouldn’t launch his slain spouse’s life insurance coverage coverage and in addition vented about being “the primary suspect” whereas allegedly projecting confidence that an investigation would present she was killed by a hunter.
When initially quizzed by police, the defendant allegedly stated he was out taking a look at property through the time interval when his spouse probably would have been shot and killed. He couldn’t recall the place or what property he noticed, police stated, and a later search of the native GPS system in his automotive put his automotive close to–after which proper subsequent to–his spouse’s automotive throughout that point interval when he was allegedly taking a look at parcels of land.
In one other interview, police declare, they queried their suspect’s roommate, who stated she was in a longtime sexual relationship with him that Amber Dunigan ultimately came upon about. On the evening of the homicide, the roommate allegedly stated, Jason Dunigan bought residence, requested her to plug in his telephone, and “then instantly went and washed his fingers.”
The Tyler, Texas native was remembered fondly in her obituary:
She was a 2002 graduate of Carlisle Excessive College (Arkansas). She was an lively member of the scholar physique taking part in a number of teams and was listed among the many Who’s Who Amongst American Excessive College College students. She was lively within the pupil council and band, She was on the Flag Workforce and began the flag line for the primary time at school historical past.
Amber graduated from the Profession Academy of Hair Design in 2019. She cherished her work and her dedication and honesty was proven in her being promoted to handle two Tremendous-Reduce places. She was a very fashionable stylist, well liked by co-workers and prospects alike. She additionally loved crafting, studying, adorning truffles, and cooking new recipes.
Her former co-workers additionally remembered the slain mom as a pleasure to be round and the embodiment of positivity.
“Amber was one of many kindest souls you can ever meet,” Pleasure Huffaker instructed KNWA. “She by no means had a foul factor to say about anybody. She was a really constructive individual, that at all times had a smile on her face. She was an awesome mama. Her son was the love of her life. She was a really hard-working, loyal, sincere, and motivated worker. She was keen to assist each salon after they wanted it and strived to make her salons and employees the very best.”
“It’s hit all people fairly exhausting,” Tara Wheeler added, “We type of need to maintain our minds busy in the meanwhile. Simply to maintain ourselves going and type of maintain in good spirits, as a result of that’s what she would need us to be, is in good spirit, and never crying on a regular basis for her.”
Late final yr, the Arkansas State Police turned over the Amber Dunigan case recordsdata to the Washington County Prosecutor.
Jason Dunigan was booked into the Washington County Jail and subsequently launched on $250,000 bond over the weekend. The defendant’s subsequent listening to is presently slated for Feb. 23, 2022.
[image via Washington County Jail]
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