Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Russey Gets Life

A 32-year-old Gurdon man was convicted of rape and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Millard James Russey was found guilty of the rape of a 15-year-old Gurdon girl on May 18, 1997.

The rape occurred about 3:15 a.m. on the old Whelen Springs road.

The victim told officials she was approached from behind by Russey when he put a knife to her throat and forced her to the ground and raped her.

According to the victim, the attack occurred at the east end of the Anthony Hicks lumber sawmill.

The victim was reportedly raped on gravel ground, which resulted in pieces of gravel bruising and cutting her back. This showed up during the examination she was given after reporting the attack.

A search of the area after the attack turned up a windbreaker, a handwritten note and a used sanitary napkin the victim had told officials were left.

Officers also were able to get the imprint of a shoe reportedly belonging to the suspect in the case.

The investigation resulted in Russey's arrest on June 16, 1997. It was learned he was employed at the lumber yard when the attack occurred.

The victim identified her attacker from a photo lineup, while the presence of semen was found by doctors during the exam. Blood taken from Russey matched the semen sample taken from the girl when a DNA test was ran at the Arkansas State Crime Lab.

Russey's trial lasted two days before a jury returned with a guilty verdict. The jury also recommended the sentence of life without parole.

Russey's attorney, Blake Batson, has filed an appeal to the sentence already.