Lockesburg Man Charged in Infant Death Arraigned in Sevier County

LOCKESBURG – A Lockesburg man charged in the death of an eight-month-old child earlier this year was arraigned Thursday, March 19, in Sevier County Circuit Court.

Edward Scott Jr., 31, faced a charge of first-degree murder following an investigation into the infant’s death last month. Bond had been set at $500,000, and Scott remained in custody at the Sevier County Jail.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified on Feb. 5 of an unresponsive infant. The child was transported to the Sevier County Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigators responded to the hospital and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. The infant was later transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Authorities said the state medical examiner ruled the child’s death a homicide.

The sheriff’s office, working in coordination with the Arkansas State Police, continued the investigation and identified Scott as a suspect. The findings were presented to the prosecuting attorney, and formal charges were filed in Sevier County Circuit Court.

Scott, who was reportedly the boyfriend of the child’s mother at the time of the incident, was taken into custody on Feb. 12.

As with all criminal cases, the charge was an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.