Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Rosston man shoots, kills couple

A Nevada County man remains in jail today after allegedly shooting a Clark County couple to death Saturday night. An 11-year-old child was apparently a witness to the crime.

Kelvin Box, 39, 4523 Highway 371, Rosston, appeared in Nevada County Circuit Court Monday for first appearance in the case.

Box reportedly turned himself in to Nevada County Sheriff Bobby Carlton Sunday morning shortly after 7 a.m.

The two victims have been identified as Tracy Lavan Lambert, 31, and Joseph Jerome Lambert, 36, both of Arkadelphia.

According to police, Tracy and Joseph Lambert arrived at a Rosston residence Saturday evening when Box pulled into the driveway behind them. Tracy and Kelvin Box had been married and have an 11-year-old daughter. The daughter was also in the Lamberts vehicle when it arrived at the Rosston residence.

Carlton said the details were still under investigation by the Arkansas State Police but the early indications were that Box had a verbal exchange with Joseph Lambert. The child was also outside when the argument occurred. She apparently ran inside the house. Box then allegedly shot Joseph Lambert multiple times in the back and back of the head. Carlton said Tracy Lambert then reportedly ran but Box caught her before she reached the house and shot her multiple times in the face.

According to Arkansas State Police Detective Scott Clark, police are still working out the details of the altercation, including whether the Lamberts and Box met by chance or if Box was lying in wait for the couple.

Were still trying to sort it all out, Clark said. Its certainly a scenario were going to have to look into.

Clark said that Joseph Lambert had a gun at the time of the incident.

Its also true he had a concealed weapon permit, Clark said.

Box left the scene after the shootings and officers searched for him throughout the night. Carlton said he contacted Boxs family and said Box should turn himself in. Shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday, Box arrived at the sheriffs office where he surrendered to authorities. Carlton said Box had a .44 Ruger which he turned in as the murder weapon.

Box was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder but those charges were amended early Monday to two counts of capital murder.

Eighth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Chris Thomason was in Nevada County Monday for Boxs first appearance. Thomason said his office has not yet received the completed case file against Box. He said he expects to receive that information within the next week to ten days, and said formal charges will be filed soon after that. Thomason said the decision to file capital murder charges was based on preliminary information provided by law enforcement.

Asked whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case, Thomason offered no comment other than the fact that Its too early to say.

Carlton said the 11-year-old girl was taken by family members following the incident. He said state authorities are involved with the case and will be certain that the child is cared for and is receiving grief counseling.