Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Formal murder charges filed

Two Nevada County men have been formally charged in unrelated murders. The charges were filed in the Nevada County Circuit Clerks office on Aug. 30.

Kelvin Box

Kelvin Box, 39, 4523 Highway 371, Rosston, has reportedly claimed that he shot one of his victims in self-defense but could not explain why he shot the second.

Box is accused in the Aug. 11 shooting death of his ex-wife, Tracy Lambert, and her husband, Joseph Jerome Lambert, both of Arkadelphia. The formal charges include two counts of capital murder, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of terroristic threatening. In a separate case, Box is charged with sexual indecency with a child who is less than 14 years of age and sexual assault.

According to an affidavit on file with the county clerks office, there were witnesses to the shooting death. The information, compiled by Arkansas State Police Detective Scott Clark, indicates taht the Lamberts arrived at a Rosston residence shortly after 8 p.m. on Aug. 11. Tracy Lambert rang the doorbell just as the pickup driven by Box arrived.

The affidavit indicates that Box began arguing with Tracy Lambert and then with Jerome Lambert. The daughter of Tracy Lambert and Box then exited the Lambert vehicle and approached her father. Box reportedly had a handgun in his hand while the altercation was occurring.

The court records indicate that soon after the argument began, Kelvin Box approached the Lambert vehicle and shot Jerome Lambert several times through the open back drivers side door of the Lambert vehicle. He then approached Mrs. Lambert, who was standing nearby, pushed her to the ground and shot her several times.

At that point, Box reportedly placed the handgun in his truck then went inside the residence, hugged both witnesses, told them he was sorry, then left, according to Clarks statement. One of the witnesses was reportedly his daughter, though the affidavit isnt clear on that point.

Area law enforcement searched for Box throughout the night. According to information from Nevada County Sheriff Bobby Carlton, Box turned himself in early the next morning.

Clarks affidavit indicates that Box handed over a Ruger 9MM handgun that was reportedly used as the murder weapon.

Clarks statement indicates that, After being advised of his rights, Mr. Box stated that he had shot both Jerome and Tracy Lambert. He also stated that he stayed in the Rosston area until he decided to turn himself in.

Box reportedly told Clark that Box said he felt threatened by Mr. Lambert and shot him in self-defense. He could not explain why he shot Mrs. Lambert.

In a separate case, Box is charged with sexual indecency with a child and sexual assault. According to an affidavit filed by Hays McWhirter of the Arkansas State Police, a child indicated that Box had made overt sexual contact. The child, who is reportedly less than 14 years of age, told police that Box had indicated a desire to have sex with that child and warned the child not to tell anyone. Box was taken into court on those charges after hed been in court on the capital murder charges.

Box told Eighth Judicial District Judge Duncan Culpepper that his family was seeking to hire an attorney. Bond was set on the capital murder case at a half million dollars, but Box could have been released by putting up 10 percent of that. After the sexual indecency charges were added, an additional half million dollar cash bond was added, meaning Box would need $550,000 for release. Culpepper told Box during his second court appearance that he is entitled to bond, but set it at the maximum.

In 1994, Box was sentenced to five years probation, a $100 fine and restitution after pleading guilty to first-degree battery in Columbia County. According to court records there, Box was at a party when he became angry at another man and cut his head and face with a knife. Boxs then-girlfriend was reportedly treated at a hospital for a broken nose and blows to the eyes. After the altercation, Box shot out all four tires and fired one shot into the side of a car.

Police reported collecting a 12-gauge shotgun, a 30-30 and about two dozen shells when Box was arrested. He also had a knife in his back pocket. The shotgun had been reported as stolen.

On April 24, 1994, Box was sentenced. In 2005, court officials reported that Box had made none of the agreed payments and owed $1,892, prompting a warrant for Boxs arrest. Box was arrested without incident on Jan. 19, 2007. There is no court information regarding the status of that case.

(The Magnolia Banner News contributed information for this story.)

Isaac Railey Jr.

Isaac Railey Jr., 45, 692 Bryant St., has been charged in the Aug. 2 death of his ex-wife, Geneva Chatman. According to court records, Chatman was in the kitchen floor with her throat cut when officers arrived at her Martin Place apartment.

According to an affidavit filed by Joseph Beavers of the Arkansas State Police, Railey walked into the Nevada County Sheriffs Office shortly after 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and told jail officials that he had killed his wife.

At the time of the murder, Nevada County Sheriff Bobby Carlton said Railey had told them where the body would be found and allowed himself to be handcuffed. Carlton and NCSO Chief Deputy Wayne Kisselburg headed for Chatmans apartment and called for Prescott Police Chief Brian Russell. Russell, along with Assistant Police Chief Ann Jordan and Nevada County Coroner William Mulluns were later at the scene while Arkansas State Police worked to gather evidence.

According to Beavers statement on file with the Nevada County Circuit Clerk, Railey confessed to the murder.

He advised that they had been divorced since June 26, 2007, Beavers wrote in his report. Since that time, they have maintained an on-again-off-again relationship. He advised that he had been giving her money, but realized they were not going to get back together.

Beavers report goes on to indicate that Railey said he just grew tired of it.

He stated that he went to the residence of Geneva Chatman with the intent of killing her. He had a blue handled Tyson style knife concealed in his waistband.

Chatman reportedly allowed Railey in the house because he told her that he wanted to fix her car.

Chatman had called police at least two times over the week preceding the murder. One of those times, she reported that someone had damaged her car. On the other occasion, Chatman reported that someone had tried to break into her house. Police did not locate anyone either time, according to reports on file with the PPD. Chatman implicated Railey, but had no sound proof.

On the day of the murder, Railey reportedly asked Chatman if he could use the bathroom. When the woman turned her back, he grabbed her from behind and attempted to cut her throat, according to Beavers report. Chatman struggled and Railey pushed her to the floor.

She was lying on the floor on her back when he go on top of her and stabbed the knife through the side of her neck, according to Beavers statement.

Railey then reportedly washed his hands and left the knife on the counter. He then stole a DVD player and pawned it for $20.

The report indicates that, He advised that he spent the $20 to buy a rock of crack cocaine and smoke it before turning himself in.

Railey had been arrested just weeks before the murder on drug charges and had been released on his own recognizance. Bond has now been denied and Railey is being held in the Nevada County Jail.