Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Local Man s Charged With Magnolia Murder

A 26-year-old Gurdon man and his 38-year-old girlfriend have been charged with first degree murder in connection with the death of a Magnolia man.

Glen Franklin (Frankie) Hughes was charged in the murder of Danny Ray Smith, who was killed Monday, June 15.

However, Hughes isn't the only one charged in the shooting death of Smith. Smith's common-law-wife, who is also Hughes' girlfriend, is charged in the case. Linda Jean Smith, 38, was also charged with first degree murder in Columbia County. Bail for the two has been set at $250,000 each.

Wayne Thompkins, Columbia County Sheriff, said Linda Smith met Hughes through mutual friends about two weeks ago when she moved out of the house she was sharing with the victim. The Smiths had moved to Columbia County about five years ago from Texarkana, Texas, Thompkins said.

Hughes, on the other hand, moved to Magnolia from Gurdon about a month ago.

According to reports, a motorist reported the shooting at approximately 8 a.m. Monday at the Smith home near Columbia County Road 82 West, and Arkansas State Highway 9 about three miles south of Magnolia.

Officers found Smith's body lying near his truck.

Thompkins said Smith, a self-proclaimed member of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, was reportedly shot nine times with his own AK- 47 assault rifle.