Murder Mystery

The Monster Among Us

– By Sarah Russell

erial killers – they are masters of staying under the radar. Some kill in their own communities; others stay on the move. Could such a monster have ever been among us? Is it possible that a serial killer has taken a life in our area? The FBI says yes. And they hope you can put a name to the North Little Rock victim. The killer? Meet Samuel Little.

The old man sitting across the table from the Texas Ranger calmly listed off locations and numbers, “Jackson, Mississippi — one; Cincinnati, Ohio — one; Phoenix, Arizona — three...” This was the roadmap to his murders: 19 states, 37 cities, 93 women killed. Those numbers made him America’s most prolific serial killer. It is a horror story that ceased only when Little’s health couldn’t support his appetite any longer.

He could no longer outrun the law either. When the guilty verdict was read in his 2014 Los Angeles murder trial, Little defiantly raised his voice and a clenched fist declaring his innocence. DNA evidence had prevailed. His subsequent appeal failed. Samuel Little would never head out of town again after a murder. He made it clear he would never be talking either. But L.A. law enforcement wasn’t finished with him just yet. Turning to the FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP) headquartered in Quantico, Virginia, they expressed their belief that Little was responsible for more murders. ViCAP agreed.

ViCap is a resource that provides information and analysis beyond the scope of most local law enforcement jurisdictions. It also has access to criminal databases across the entire country, which aids in linking one suspect to multiple locations. The lack of advanced forensics coupled with the timeframe Little had killed meant DNA wasn’t always going to provide a slam dunk for them. Little, too, had been very intentional in his methods of locating, killing, and disposing of these women. An early stint in juvenile hall and his collection of true crime magazines had provided him quite the education.

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Addicts, prostitutes, the mentally ill or homeless – Little’s victims were carefully chosen from women whose lives were already on the edge. Their lifestyles were such that it was difficult for family or law enforcement to locate them even when they were alive. For him it was never about the woman’s age, race or body shape. No, what marked a woman as his prey was the curve of her neck.

Even wheelchair bound, Little’s powerful physical presence was evident, especially his hands. One reporter described them as large as “catchers’ mitts.” Having taken up boxing in one jail stint, Little used those hands outside of prison as a weapon. One victim took a blow to her abdomen so ferocious that her spine was broken. Not all victims were beaten, but invariably he killed by wrapping his long, bare fingers around the curve of the neck. Strangulation was his sexual trigger. “As long and slow as possible,” he described his

Samuel Little

method, adding that it gave him pleasure to let his victims repeatedly gain consciousness only to ultimately take their last breath. On his neck were the scars left by women who had fought for their lives.

Leaving no crime scene behind, Little killed his victims in his car. Bodies were methodically placed in areas where time and the elements would have their way. Strangulation is also not a readily apparent method of death. ViCap found that the women whose bodies had been found often had case files that listed their deaths as overdose, accidental, natural or undetermined. Some of these women were previously identified, many were not until ViCap, collaborating with a Department of Justice liaison, joined in. In the case of the North Little Rock victim, it seems that her body has not only remained unfound, but her identity remains unknown.

By May of 2018, the team literally had Little in their sights, sitting across that interview table in Texas. Since his incarceration, they had been intensively studying the man and his crimes. Having heard that Little felt his California penitentiary stay was beneath his standards, they came at him with a trojan horse proposal. There was an unsolved case in Odessa Texas. Would he consider a temporary transfer to Texas to help them out? Word had it the food and medical facilities were better there.

That’s how Little and Texas Ranger Jim Holland ended up across a table from each other. Holland had been specifically chosen for this meticulously planned operation. Not just any Texas Ranger, Holland is legendary for his ability to get criminals, especially of this profile, to talk. Coming across like the friendly guy from church, Holland kept the pizza and Dr Pepper coming as well as the banter about all the sports teams Little followed. Leaning his own large frame way back in his chair, he seemed to have nothing to do but shoot the breeze. Suited Little just fine. He liked everything here in Texas. Little also knew the system well enough to understand that a bit of cooperation could make his stay longer. A lot of cooperation might cut him a deal to go back to a California jail of his choosing.

Little began to open up to Holland on the Odessa case, then he began unraveling the cold cases, the Jane Does and victims not even known. There were over 650 hours of interviews over a span of 16 months. Little proved to be quite the mother lode: he had, it seems, a photographic memory. Whether it was his first murder in 1970 or his last in 2005, he was able to accurately recall the smallest of details. He could remember, for example, the street name where he picked a woman up, the position he left her body in and the area where her body might still be. There was more. The team had learned from California authorities that he spent a lot of time sketching. Could you, Little was asked, draw what the women looked like? Those large hands deftly created virtual snapshots of his victims. Each drawing reflected how the woman did her makeup, the clothing she was in and the jewelry she had chosen. The drawings were put out media and proved crucial in giving names to many of the victims.

And among the drawings on the table was “Ruth”, the name given to him by this young woman who met death through a chance encounter in Arkansas. “Oh man, I loved her,” Little said smiling. Rolling up to a crack house one day, he saw six women doing drugs on the front porch. When one girl who seemed to be in her early 20s smiled back at him, he noticed the gap in her teeth. Describing her further, he said she was about 5-foot-six, between 170 and 200 pounds, adding, “And she was light…honey-colored skin.” But most of all, she had a certain curve to her neck. Little’s sketches of victims

Going for a ride in that big ol’ yellow ’78 El Dorado Cadillac might have seemed safe enough for her. By then, Little was in his mid-50s, had salt-and-pepper hair, was no doubt easygoing, as he always was on an approach. He looked to all the world like someone’s granddaddy. She got in the car. She would now have only a few days to live.

They spent that time shoplifting from multiple malls and stores, then fencing the goods. One day, Little said, “We went to Sears and Kroger’s. That’s when I got busted.” His arrest was verified by an April 20, 1994, police report. According to Little, within several hours he was released. The Kroger manager, it seemed, wanted that big old Cadillac and the woman sleeping in it gone from the property. Little recalled taking her to meet up with her ex-boyfriend, “Bear,” and to her mother’s place, which he thought was in North Little Rock.

Finally, a few nights in, the two headed out on a cold night in the direction of “Walmart’s original store — Benton(ville)” Little said. Within 10 miles of leaving North Little Rock, Little turned off the highway onto a small road leading into woods. The road went back to a cornfield from which, he said, the highway was still visible. On the opposite side of the cornfield was a trash pile, made up of branches with some corn stalks on top. When he was done, he left her there. Then the monster among us was gone.

In December 2020, Little left this earth, hopefully going to the hottest of resting spots. Yet, despite media attention given to Little’s victims, “Ruth” remains unclaimed even though it seemed that she had family here, possibly even children. If you know who she could be or have any information at all that you feel could be helpful to law enforcement or to her family, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. You can remain anonymous, but hopefully “Ruth” will not.

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When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different When you walk into the Robinson Nursing & Rehabilitation Center you will feel a comfortable atmosphere different from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and from any other facility you have visited. We feature tall ceilings and an open floor plan. We have a lovely dining room and a covered outdoor patio area. a covered outdoor patio area.

We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own We specialize in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services. The short-term rehabilitation area has its own dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has dining area and day room. From the moment you enter our facility, we want you to experience the difference our facility has to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable to offer. From our light-filled day areas to our beautiful outdoor areas, we want you and your loved one to feel comfortable and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean and safe when staying with us. You will also notice the pride we take in our facility by keeping our building sparkling clean from the inside out. from the inside out.

Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern Our team is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment. Robinson Nursing and Rehab offers modern conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by certified activity directors, like social events conveniences in a gracious setting. We provide daily planned activities led by Certified Activity Directors, like social events and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group and outings and pastoral services with spiritual care for all religions. We strongly encourage family participation in group activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days. activities, meals and celebrating family birthdays and special days.

To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and To help you plan your visits, we provide a monthly event calendar and a monthly meal planner. Robinson Nursing and Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident. Rehab does not have set visiting hours. We view this facility as the “home” of each resident.

We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. We try our best to communicate with patients and families to help alleviate the anxiety that accompanies this journey. Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of Our team of nurses, therapists and support staff work closely together to develop a plan based on the individual needs of each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient but the entire family. each person. We recognize that rehabilitation involves not only the patient, but the entire family.

Connecting Families with Residentswith

Alma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center’s offers in-house outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy. All service offerings are done in-house and not contracted out to third parties. Our five-star rated facility through Medicare is here to serve your family. We accept most insurances, including Medicare and Medicaid.”

Alma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center 401 Heather Lane • Alma, AR

479-632-4343

Customized physical, occupational and speech therapy programs are conducted by licensed therapists who focus on improving mobility and motor skills following an injury or illness. The enrichment of daily physical function can significantly improve a resident’s selfreliance and overall happiness.

Our staff provides residents with specially tailored treatment plans designed to recapture health, independent living and facilitate a return home.

Jamestown features separate rooms and private suites with a private entrance for the comfort and convenience of shortterm residents and their families focused on returning home. A full meal service with snacks is prepared daily.