She’s undergoing a mental evaluation. Her court date is coming up.
Stacie Nicole Hickman, a 32-year-old from Viola, Arkansas, was arrested on April 3, 2025, at 11:12 a.m in Fulton County, Arkansas. She faces multiple charges stemming from a grisly killing reported in June 2023. Fast forward to today, a court has ordered tat a forensic evaluation for her regarding her mental fitness as the case progresses.
Woman Undergoing Forensic Evaluation Years After Killing Reported
According to case files, on June 1, 2023, a body identified as David Southerland was found at a gate on Briarwood Road. Authorities noted the victim had been shot, beaten, and partially burned, with barbed wire around his neck.
Hickman is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of abuse of a corpse. Additional charges involve felony firearm use linked to the crime.
After Southerland’s stolen car was spotted on June 2, 2023, Hickman confessed to shooting him with a rifle and attempting to burn his body. She claimed the motive involved a dispute over land.
Court documents show Hickman was set for forensic evaluations in December 2023 and March 2025 to assess her mental fitness. The exams are part of ongoing proceedings in Fulton County Circuit Court.
Hickman’s bond is set at $1,000,000 for each murder charge, totaling $2,000,000. She remains in custody awaiting her next court date on April 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
The case has drawn attention due to its brutality and the small-town setting of Fulton County.
Hickman’s trial will determine her fate in this chilling murder investigation.
Please note: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
