An Arkansas man has been charged with first-degree murder after a vehicle rolled over a tent onto a camper, killing her early Tuesday in Garland County, according to the Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs.
James Earby Lingo, 29, of Hot Springs is being held at the Garland County jail without bond on that charge as well as charges of theft of property, aggravated assault, criminal mischief in the first degree and tampering with evidence, the newspaper reported.
In a news release, the sheriff's office identified the woman killed as Gina Tonette Thomas, 44.
Authorities responded to a call of an accident about 12:10 a.m. that morning to a wooded area in the 2700 block of East Grand Avenue.
At the scene, a man told officers that two unknown individuals in a pickup had driven to the area and had gotten into an argument with him before leaving and later returning.
The man said, at that point, the truck rammed into the back of his vehicle, causing it to roll over and kill a woman inside a tent.
Before his arrest, Lingo had changed out the tires on his white Chevrolet pickup, cleaned the truck's front and removed an LED light bar, according to the sheriff's office.
"The rims, tires, and light bar had been concealed in the bushes in such a way as to prevent their discovery," authorities said. "Investigators were able to compare evidence found at the scene with evidence from the vehicle and concluded that they were similar."
Records show Lingo was booked into the jail about 8:35 p.m. Tuesday. He has a hearing set for May 23 in district court.
The Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs contributed to this report.