A Sebastian County man charged with two counts of first-degree murder has pleaded guilty. Johnathan Carroll Massey accepted a plea deal in the case on Friday, September 3.
Massey was charged with the February 2020 death of his grandfather, Carroll Wayne Elmore, and his grandfather’s girlfriend, Sharon Diane Bernard. Massey also pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, arson, and theft of property.
Massey was initially charged with theft of property. As authorities continued their investigation into a fire at a home located at the 3700 block of East Clark’s Chapel Road, the bodies of both victims were discovered. ​Massey took a pickup truck from the home and was apprehended in Logan County by the Arkansas State Police, acting upon a BOLO put out by the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office. Massey was reportedly found in the truck with bloody clothing.
Massey was sentenced to 70 years total time served at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 10 years suspended.
