Kensett man held in White County homicide

Authorities say a woman was killed and a man critically injured in an early morning shooting in Bald Knob.

White County sheriff's office spokesman Bill Higginbotham said in a statement that deputies were called to investigate shots fired shortly after 1:30 a.m. at a residence on Arkansas 167 North in Bald Knob.

Responding officers found a Crystal Timberlake, 34, of Ward dead and a Robert Wayne Dixon, 48, of Bald Knob critically injured, Higginbotham wrote. Dixon was taken to a Little Rock hospital for treatment.

While police were investigating at the home in Bald Knob, "detectives also discovered a substantial amount of lab components used to manufacture methamphetamine," Higginbotham wrote in a statement.

Police say they have developed at least one person of interest in the fatal shooting, which is described as an "apparent homicide."

The suspect was later identified as Benjamin Peirce, 28, of Searcy. Peirce was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon at his residence in Kensett, according to a release from the White Count Sheriff's Office. Peirce has been charged with one count of capital murder and one count of attempt to commit capital murder. He will be held at the White County Detention Center without bond.

Pierce was last seen driving a gray Mitsubishi Eclipse and should be considered armed and dangerous.

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Benjamin Peirce.

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Crystal Timberlake.

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Robert Dixon.

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