Bond Set at $850,000 for Man Accused in De Queen-Area Murder

Bond has been set at $850,000 for a Sevier County man accused of first-degree murder in connection with the death of a man whose body was found Aug. 26 just north of the De Queen city limits.

Roy Garza, 35, made his first court appearance Aug. 27 following his arrest in the death of Gregorio Pantoja. Garza remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court Sept. 17.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a report of a possible deceased person at approximately 8:07 a.m. Aug. 26 on Robinson Loop. Deputies responded to the area and found Pantoja deceased on the ground. The scene was secured, and investigators were called to the location.

Investigator Chet Stubbs and Chief Deputy Chad Dowdle responded and requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police. Special agents with the state police later arrived and assisted with processing the scene and investigating the death.

Sheriff Robert Gentry said deputies canvassed the area and interviewed neighbors as investigators worked to establish a timeline of events. Information gathered through those interviews, along with other evidence, led investigators to identify Garza as a suspect, according to the sheriff.

Garza was subsequently brought in for questioning and arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder.

Pantoja’s body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy.

Gentry said the investigation remains ongoing. He also thanked the Arkansas State Police, 9th West Judicial Drug Task Force and De Queen Police Department for their assistance in the investigation.

Garza is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.