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Linda Collins

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For the psychologist, see Linda Collins (psychologist).
Linda Collins
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 19th district
In office
January 12, 2015 – January 14, 2019
Preceded byDavid Wyatt
Succeeded byJames Sturch
Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
from the 80th district
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2013
Preceded byDavid Cook
Succeeded byCharlene Fite
Personal details
Born(1962-04-17)April 17, 1962
Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedMay 28, 2019(2019-05-28) (aged 57)
Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (2011–2019)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (until 2011)
SpousePhilip Smith (div. 2018)
Children2
ProfessionHotelier

Linda F. Collins (April 17, 1962 – May 28, 2019; known as Linda Collins-Smith until her divorce) was an American businesswoman and politician who served a single term from 2015 to 2019 as a Republican member of the Arkansas Senate.[1]

On June 4, 2019, she was found stabbed to death. Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, a former campaign worker, was convicted of the murder.

Early life and career

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Collins was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, and was native to the area.[2][3] However, she was educated in Williford, Arkansas.[4] Her family was very poor, living 10 miles down a gravel road, in a home that didn't have running water until her teen years. According to her campaign website "her background taught her the value of hard work, and the blessing of living in a land where everyone, from the poor country girl to the inner city street kid, had the opportunity to achieve their dreams through industry and determination."[5]

Since at least 2001, Collins owned and operated the Days Inn in Pocahontas, which was sold in 2016. Before owning Days Inn she was a real estate agent.[6][7]

Political career

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Affiliation

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According to her obituary:[8]

"[S]he was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. She was a member of the following organizations: Gun Owners of America, Arkansas Hospitality Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Randolph County Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Arkansas Lodging Association, Lower Mississippi Delta Development Council, and the Arkansas Federation of Republican Women. Linda was also proud to be the founder of the Randolph County Tourism Association and a supporter of the Patriots of Act 746, in Arkansas."

House of Representatives

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Prior to her Senate service, Collins was a one-term member from 2011 to 2013 of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 80.[6] Though elected as a Democrat, she switched parties in August 2011, eight months after taking office.[1][9]

Senate

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In redistricting, Collins was moved to the same 61st House district as Republican incumbent Lori Benedict. Therefore, Collins chose to run for the Arkansas Senate in the 19th district, rather than challenge Benedict.[10] Incumbent Democratic Senator David Wyatt defeated her in the 2012 general election, but on November 4, 2014, she beat Democrat James McLean for the seat. Wyatt died shortly thereafter.

Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act

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In 2017, Collins introduced Senate Bill 774, the Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act, which would prohibit people, including transgender people, from entering government restrooms or changing facilities designated for the opposite sex, as it pertains to "a person’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth.”[11][12] She said the bill would set a baseline for privacy across the state and shield public schools from lawsuits by organizations "seeking to impose their anti-privacy agenda on our children."[13] It did not pass.[12]

True Campus Carry Act

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In 2017, Collins announced the True Campus Carry Act, which would have allowed concealed-carry license holders to walk armed on campus with no additional training.[14]

2018 Republican Primary

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Collins frequently butted heads with Governor Asa Hutchinson, both as a result of her proposed legislation as well as her opposition to Medicaid expansion in the state. In May 2018, state representative James Sturch challenged Collins in that month's Republican state senate primary, garnering Hutchinson's support.[15] Collins lost a close race, with 4,726 votes to Sturch's 5,299.[16]

Personal life

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Collins was married to Philip Smith, a circuit court judge who was disgraced after a 2017 scandal.[7] She filed for divorce that November.[17] They had two children and three grandchildren.[2]

Murder

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On June 4, 2019, Collins' father and son found her body outside her home in Pocahontas; she had died of stab wounds (initially reported as gunshot wounds).[7][18][19]

On June 17, Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell of Pocahontas, a former campaign worker and personal friend of Collins, was charged with capital murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.[20][21] She initially pleaded not guilty on all three counts,[18][19] but later pled guilty to murdering Collins and abusing her corpse. On Aug. 6, 2020, O’Donnell pleaded guilty to murder. "I intentionally killed her and then hid the body,” she said during court proceedings. The next day, she was sentenced to 43 years in prison.[22]

Investigators determined that O'Donnell killed Collins on May 28.[23] According to Collins' son, O'Donnell constantly stole money from her and "snapped" when she was confronted about it.[24] However, O’Donnell claimed Collins had not had any income since January and she was taking the money out of a hotel they mutually owned to pay Linda’s bills.[25]

In July 2024, a new Dateline episode was released detailing the murder, titled The Hands of the Killer.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Rep. Collins-Smith Joins Republican Ranks (updated)". Talkbusiness.net. August 8, 2011. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Obituary: Linda F. Collins of Pocahontas, Arkansas: 1962 - 2019". Fears Family Funeral Home. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "Former Arkansas state legislator Linda Collins-Smith reportedly a victim of homicide". Blasting News. June 7, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position". July 9, 2009.
  5. ^ McBride, Jessica (June 5, 2019). "Linda Collins-Smith: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Local News: Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position (07/09/09)". Area Wide News. July 9, 2009. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "Former state senator found dead from gunshot wound". Magnolia Reporter. June 4, 2019. Archived from the original on June 5, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  8. ^ "Linda Collins Obituary".
  9. ^ Andrew Demillo (August 10, 2011). "Arkansas Rep. Linda Collins-Smith switches to GOP". Deseret News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  10. ^ Tammy Curtis (November 26, 2011). "Local News: Collins-Smith announces State Senate candidacy". Area Wide News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  11. ^ "New bill specifies use of bathrooms in Arkansas government buildings". Arkansas Online. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  12. ^ a b ""Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act (SB 774)", Rewire.News Legislative Tracker". Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  13. ^ TEGNA. "Ark. legislator proposes 'bathroom bill' after other legislator withdraws previous bill". KTHV. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  14. ^ "Battle over health care, guns marks Arkansas Senate race". Arkansas Online. May 21, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  15. ^ Moritz, John (May 21, 2018). "Battle over health care, guns marks Arkansas Senate race". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Jared, George (May 23, 2018). "Collins-Smith loses State Senate seat; Rep. Sullivan survives primary challenge". KASU. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  17. ^ Michael Hibblen (June 10, 2019). "Services Scheduled For Former Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith". KUAR. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  18. ^ a b "Rebecca O'Donnell facing death penalty in former Sen. Collins murder case". KTHV. Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  19. ^ a b "Prosecutors to seek death penalty for suspect in shooting death of former senator". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  20. ^ "Arrest made in connection to death of Linda Collins-Smith". THV11. June 17, 2019 [June 14, 2019]. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
  21. ^ Andrew Demillo (June 17, 2019). "Arkansas woman charged with murder in ex-senator's killing". Houston Chronicle. AP. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  22. ^ "Ex-aide pleads guilty to murder of conservative Arkansas state senator Linda Collins". foxnews.com. August 7, 2020. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020.
  23. ^ Brantley, Max (August 25, 2020). "Family seeks protection of some files in Linda Collins murder investigation". Arkansas Times. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  24. ^ "Rebecca O' Donnell pleads guilty to murdering former senator Linda Collins". August 6, 2020.
  25. ^ Newsdesk, Region 8. "NEW DETAILS: Rebecca O'Donnell, a bloody knife and a chicken". KAIT. Retrieved December 16, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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Arkansas Senate
Preceded by Arkansas State Senator for
District 19 (including Randolph County)
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
Arkansas House of Representatives
Preceded by Arkansas State Representative for
District 80 (Crawford and Washington counties)
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
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