279:. Her family was very poor, living 10 miles down a gravel road, in a home that didn't have running water until her teen years. According to her campaign website "her background taught her the value of hard work, and the blessing of living in a land where everyone, from the poor country girl to the inner city street kid, had the opportunity to achieve their dreams through industry and determination."
319:, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Randolph County Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Arkansas Lodging Association, Lower Mississippi Delta Development Council, and the Arkansas Federation of Republican Women. Linda was also proud to be the founder of the Randolph County Tourism Association and a supporter of the Patriots of Act 746, in Arkansas."
435:
Investigators determined that O'Donnell killed
Collins on May 28. According to Collins' son, O'Donnell constantly stole money from her and "snapped" when she was confronted about it. However, O’Donnell claimed Collins had not had any income since January and she was taking the money out of a hotel
376:
people, from entering government restrooms or changing facilities designated for the opposite sex, as it pertains to "a person’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth.” She said the bill would set a baseline for privacy across the
431:
On June 17, Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell of
Pocahontas, a former campaign worker and personal friend of Collins, was charged with capital murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse. She initially pleaded not guilty on all three counts, but later pled guilty to murdering Collins and
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abusing her corpse. On Aug. 6, 2020, O’Donnell pleaded guilty to murder. "I intentionally killed her and then hid the body,” she said during court proceedings. The next day, she was sentenced to 43 years in prison.
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In 2017, Collins announced the True Campus Carry Act, which would have allowed concealed-carry license holders to walk armed on campus with no additional training.
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challenged
Collins in that month's Republican state senate primary, garnering Hutchinson's support. Collins lost a close race, with 4,726 votes to Sturch's 5,299.
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On June 4, 2019, Collins' father and son found her body outside her home in
Pocahontas; she had died of stab wounds (initially reported as gunshot wounds).
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state and shield public schools from lawsuits by organizations "seeking to impose their anti-privacy agenda on our children." It did not pass.
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In 2017, Collins introduced Senate Bill 774, the
Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act, which would prohibit people, including
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On June 4, 2019, she was found stabbed to death. Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, a former campaign worker, was convicted of the murder.
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who was disgraced after a 2017 scandal. She filed for divorce that
November. They had two children and three grandchildren.
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until her divorce) was an
American businesswoman and politician who served a single term from 2015 to 2019 as a
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in
Pocahontas, which was sold in 2016. Before owning Days Inn she was a real estate agent.
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808:"Ark. legislator proposes 'bathroom bill' after other legislator withdraws previous bill"
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1070:"Ex-aide pleads guilty to murder of conservative Arkansas state senator Linda Collins"
781:""Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act (SB 774)", Rewire.News Legislative Tracker"
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539:"Former Arkansas state legislator Linda Collins-Smith reportedly a victim of homicide"
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defeated her in the 2012 general election, but on
November 4, 2014, she beat Democrat
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Prior to her Senate service, Collins was a one-term member from 2011 to 2013 of the
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983:"Prosecutors to seek death penalty for suspect in shooting death of former senator"
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in the 19th district, rather than challenge
Benedict. Incumbent Democratic Senator
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893:"Collins-Smith loses State Senate seat; Rep. Sullivan survives primary challenge"
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1093:"Family seeks protection of some files in Linda Collins murder investigation"
1120:"Rebecca O' Donnell pleads guilty to murdering former senator Linda Collins"
397:, both as a result of her proposed legislation as well as her opposition to
348:, Collins was moved to the same 61st House district as Republican incumbent
950:"Rebecca O'Donnell facing death penalty in former Sen. Collins murder case"
615:"Local News: Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position (07/09/09)"
39:
336:, she switched parties in August 2011, eight months after taking office.
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921:"Services Scheduled For Former Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith"
748:"New bill specifies use of bathrooms in Arkansas government buildings"
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513:"Obituary: Linda F. Collins of Pocahontas, Arkansas: 1962 - 2019"
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897:
1135:"NEW DETAILS: Rebecca O'Donnell, a bloody knife and a chicken"
1040:"Arkansas woman charged with murder in ex-senator's killing"
722:"Local News: Collins-Smith announces State Senate candidacy"
1013:"Arrest made in connection to death of Linda Collins-Smith"
457:
List of American politicians who switched parties in office
275:, and was native to the area. However, she was educated in
865:"Battle over health care, guns marks Arkansas Senate race"
838:"Battle over health care, guns marks Arkansas Senate race"
480:"Rep. Collins-Smith Joins Republican Ranks (updated)"
646:"Former state senator found dead from gunshot wound"
582:"Linda Collins-Smith: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know"
567:"Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position"
282:
Since at least 2001, Collins owned and operated the
691:"Arkansas Rep. Linda Collins-Smith switches to GOP"
307:. She was a member of the following organizations:
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443:episode was released detailing the murder, titled
16:American politician and businesswoman (1962–2019)
1341:Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives
401:in the state. In May 2018, state representative
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1248:District 80 (Crawford and Washington counties)
609:
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393:Collins frequently butted heads with Governor
248:(April 17, 1962 – May 28, 2019; known as
364:for the seat. Wyatt died shortly thereafter.
101:Arkansas House of Representatives
8:
116:January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2013
69:January 12, 2015 – January 14, 2019
1160:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
317:National Federation of Independent Business
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436:they mutually owned to pay Linda’s bills.
352:. Therefore, Collins chose to run for the
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368:Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act
1331:Deaths by stabbing in the United States
1301:21st-century American women politicians
1212:District 19 (including Randolph County)
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413:Collins was married to Philip Smith, a
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332:from District 80. Though elected as a
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592:from the original on November 6, 2019
490:from the original on October 29, 2013
7:
1356:20th-century American businesspeople
1286:21st-century American businesspeople
787:from the original on August 12, 2019
1361:20th-century American businesswomen
1351:Women state legislators in Arkansas
1291:21st-century American businesswomen
621:from the original on August 3, 2017
1019:from the original on June 15, 2019
927:from the original on June 11, 2019
818:from the original on March 8, 2017
758:from the original on March 8, 2017
720:Tammy Curtis (November 26, 2011).
689:Andrew Demillo (August 10, 2011).
14:
1321:Assassinated American politicians
1296:21st-century American legislators
1246:Arkansas State Representative for
1230:Arkansas House of Representatives
1091:Brantley, Max (August 25, 2020).
919:Michael Hibblen (June 10, 2019).
656:from the original on June 5, 2019
580:McBride, Jessica (June 5, 2019).
519:from the original on July 6, 2019
330:Arkansas House of Representatives
303:"he was a lifetime member of the
1371:Politicians assassinated in 2019
1346:People from Pocahontas, Arkansas
1038:Andrew Demillo (June 17, 2019).
617:. Area Wide News. July 9, 2009.
313:Arkansas Hospitality Association
216:
891:Jared, George (May 23, 2018).
1:
863:Moritz, John (May 21, 2018).
515:. Fears Family Funeral Home.
1326:Businesspeople from Arkansas
23:Linda Collins (psychologist)
1366:People murdered in Arkansas
299:According to her obituary:
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1210:Arkansas State Senator for
305:National Rifle Association
183:Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.
21:For the psychologist, see
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1015:. THV11. June 17, 2019 .
870:Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
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676:"Linda Collins Obituary"
324:House of Representatives
1316:Arkansas state senators
445:The Hands of the Killer
389:2018 Republican Primary
321:
105:from the 80th district
58:from the 19th district
1336:Female murder victims
381:True Campus Carry Act
309:Gun Owners of America
267:Early life and career
1311:Arkansas Republicans
1133:Newsdesk, Region 8.
1046:. AP. Archived from
439:In July 2024, a new
273:Pocahontas, Arkansas
271:Collins was born in
167:Pocahontas, Arkansas
277:Williford, Arkansas
250:Linda Collins-Smith
1306:Arkansas Democrats
1076:. August 7, 2020.
724:. Area Wide News.
486:. August 8, 2011.
399:Medicaid expansion
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1255:Succeeded by
1219:Succeeded by
1122:. August 6, 2020.
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650:Magnolia Reporter
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246:Linda F. Collins
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32:Linda Collins
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1222:James Sturch
1208:
1146:December 16,
1144:. Retrieved
1138:
1128:
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1102:. Retrieved
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1073:
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1052:. Retrieved
1048:the original
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846:. Retrieved
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695:Deseret News
694:
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658:. Retrieved
649:
623:. Retrieved
594:. Retrieved
585:
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551:December 16,
549:. Retrieved
542:
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521:. Retrieved
492:. Retrieved
483:
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438:
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430:
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403:James Sturch
392:
384:
371:
362:James McLean
343:
327:
302:
298:
281:
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262:
249:
245:
244:
207:(until 2011)
201:affiliations
179:(2019-05-28)
177:May 28, 2019
134:Succeeded by
111:
92:James Sturch
87:Succeeded by
64:
18:
1281:2019 deaths
1276:1962 births
1203:David Wyatt
1074:foxnews.com
997:November 6,
964:November 6,
732:October 28,
705:October 28,
625:October 28,
596:November 6,
494:October 28,
374:transgender
358:David Wyatt
295:Affiliation
194:(2011–2019)
122:Preceded by
80:David Wyatt
75:Preceded by
1270:Categories
1252:2011–2013
1239:David Cook
1216:2015–2019
1185:Vote Smart
463:References
254:Republican
232:Profession
205:Democratic
192:Republican
160:1962-04-17
127:David Cook
586:Heavy.com
112:In office
65:In office
1156:cite web
1078:Archived
1054:June 18,
1023:June 15,
1017:Archived
991:Archived
987:ABC News
958:Archived
931:June 11,
925:Archived
923:. KUAR.
822:March 8,
816:Archived
791:June 12,
785:Archived
762:March 8,
756:Archived
726:Archived
699:Archived
654:Archived
619:Archived
590:Archived
523:June 11,
517:Archived
488:Archived
451:See also
441:Dateline
334:Democrat
284:Days Inn
235:Hotelier
224:Children
1181:Profile
1104:July 4,
904:July 4,
876:July 4,
806:TEGNA.
660:June 5,
424:Murder
340:Senate
212:Spouse
169:, U.S.
418:judge
219:2018)
1162:link
1148:2020
1140:KAIT
1106:2022
1056:2019
1025:2019
999:2019
966:2019
954:KTHV
933:2019
906:2022
898:KASU
878:2022
850:2020
824:2017
812:KTHV
793:2019
764:2017
734:2013
707:2013
662:2019
627:2013
598:2019
553:2020
525:2019
496:2013
217:div.
174:Died
154:Born
1183:at
344:In
1272::
1158:}}
1154:{{
1137:.
1095:.
1072:.
1042:.
989:.
985:.
974:^
956:.
952:.
941:^
895:.
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