A northeast Arkansas man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 39-year-old woman, according to authorities.
The charge against Gary Lee Fears stems from a reported dispute between the 57-year-old and his roommates in Walnut Ridge over rental payments Dec. 15, according to a news release from the office of Henry Boyce, prosecuting attorney for the state's Third Judicial District.
Angel Charlene Penn was found dead in the kitchen of Fears' home when law enforcement officers arrived, the release states.
Fears also faces charges of being a felon in possession of a weapon and committing a felony offense in the presence of a child, the prosecuting attorney's office said.
Fears is scheduled to appear in Lawrence County Circuit Court on March 8, according to the clerk's office.
