Nona Dirksmeyer: Murder of a Beauty Queen
Nineteen-year-old Nona Dirksmeyer, a student at Arkansas Tech, was found stabbed and bludgeoned to death Dec. 15, 2005, in her Russellville apartment. Her boyfriend at the time, Kevin Jones, was arrested in her death and acquitted of her murder in 2007. In 2008, Dirksmeyer's neighbor, Gary Dunn, was arrested in her death based on DNA evidence authorities said linked him to the crime. Dunn's first murder trial began in April 2010 and ended with a hung jury. The second trial began in January 2011 and also ended with a hung jury. Prosecutors later had the capital murder charge against Dunn dismissed, though they kept open the possibility that he might be charged again and retried later.
Nona Dirksmeyer murder focus of new 'Dateline' episode
posted: 02/22/2013 8:29 a.m. Comment 1
Dateline NBC will profile the criminal case surrounding the 2005 beating death of Arkansas Tech student Nona Dirksmeyer in an hourlong episode set to air Friday night, the show said in a statement.
Twice-acquitted Dunn loses bid to toss civil suit
posted: 01/19/2013 2:30 a.m. Discuss
A federal judge refused Friday to grant two-time murder defendant Gary Dunn’s request to have civil conspiracy allegations against him thrown out of court.
Trial set in suit tied to Dirksmeyer case
posted: 09/05/2012 5:39 a.m. Discuss
A federal judge has set the trial in a lawsuit filed by the boyfriend of murder victim Nona Dirksmeyer to start during the week of May 13, 2013.
No plot, says Dirksmeyer suit filing
posted: 08/15/2012 3:57 a.m. Discuss
Defendants in a lawsuit filed by the boyfriend of murder victim Nona Dirksmeyer denied in a court filing Monday that they conspired to protect another suspect from prosecution.
Judge allows due-process suit
posted: 06/26/2012 4:42 a.m. Discuss
A federal judge cleared the way Monday for a lawsuit filed by the boyfriend of murder victim Nona Dirksmeyer to proceed to trial.
Dirksmeyer-suit notice to be published
posted: 06/12/2012 3:39 a.m. Discuss
A warning order for Gary Dunn, who formerly was charged in the death of Nona Dirksmeyer, to respond to a lawsuit naming him and two others as defendants will be published in two Arkansas newspapers, an attorney said Monday.
Kevin Jones’ suit against officers gets trial date
posted: 02/20/2012 10:11 a.m. Discuss
A federal judge has set a trial date for two Russellville law officers who are the targets of a lawsuit by a man who was acquitted in the death of beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer.
Detective in Dirksmeyer case seeks suit's dismissal
posted: 01/31/2012 8:30 a.m. Comments 2
The law enforcement officers who are the target of a civil lawsuit filed by the boyfriend of slain beauty queen Nona Dirksmeyer are asking a federal judge to dismiss the suit.
Judge lifts Dirksmeyer silence order
posted: 10/04/2011 5:27 a.m. Discuss
Circuit Judge Bill Pearson lifted a gag order on Monday that for years had prevented witnesses, family members and attorneys from talking publicly about former capital murder defendant Gary Dunn’s two murder trials, both of which ended with hung juries.
Judge: Release Dunn, Jones trial data
posted: 05/13/2011 6:32 a.m. Discuss
A Pulaski County judge on Thursday ordered a special prosecutor to release transcripts and documentary evidence from at least two murder trials in the 2005 slaying of Nona Dirksmeyer to her boyfriend Kevin Jones.
Case off for now, Dunn is released
posted: 04/06/2011 5:15 a.m. Comments 5
A judge Tuesday dismissed a capital-murder charge against Gary Dunn, whose case has twice ended in mistrials in the 2005 slaying of Arkansas Tech University student Nona Dirksmeyer.
Suit seeks materials from Jones, Dunn files
posted: 04/02/2011 3:27 a.m. Discuss
Kevin Jones, who was acquitted in the killing of his girlfriend, Nona Dirksmeyer, filed a civil suit Wednesday in Pulaski County Circuit Court against special prosecutor Jack McQuary, seeking documents related to the case against current defendant Gary Dunn and his own case, court records show.
Judge sets Aug. 1 for Dunn’s retrial
posted: 03/11/2011 6:25 a.m. Discuss
Capital-murder defendant Gary Dunn, who is accused of killing Arkansas Tech University student Nona Dirksmeyer, will go to trial for a third time Aug. 1.
Dunn to be tried 3rd time in Dirksmeyer death
posted: 03/10/2011 3:30 p.m. Comments 4
A Pope County circuit judge has set an Aug. 1 date for the third trial of Gary Dunn on a charge of capital murder.
Promise of 4th trial prompts questions
posted: 02/06/2011 3:39 a.m. Comments 3
Three trials. Two defendants. No convictions. After Gary Dunn’s most recent mistrial - his second - special prosecutors said they would try him a third time in the 2005 murder of Arkansas Tech University sophomore Nona Dirksmeyer.
