De Queen man in custody concerning Madison County murder and child abduction case

Arkansas State Police say a De Queen man is in custody in connection with the deaths of three Madison County residents and a child abduction near the Huntsville community. Authorities were alerted to the homicides Tuesday afternoon. The investigation led to information about two vehicles that possibly had been at the residence. State police found one of the vehicles abandoned along Interstate 40 near Mayflower. Around 10 o’clock Tuesday night, the other vehicle was spotted traveling west on Interstate 30 near Benton.
As state troopers initiated a traffic stop, a passenger in the van exited the vehicle armed with a rifle and began verbally provoking the troopers who had made the traffic stop. Simultaneously other troopers moved-in from behind the gunman and were able to arrest 22 year old Hunter Chenoweth,of De Queen.
The driver of the van was a 25 year-old De Queen woman. Also in the van was the abducted infant, less than one year-old.
The child was unharmed and later released to Department of Human Services. The female driver has been questioned by state police and released.
Chenoweth is being held at the Saline County Detention Center while the homicide investigation continues today. Formal charges associated with the homicides will be determined by the Madison County prosecuting attorney.