A welfare check on 72-year-old William Dubois in Fort Smith led to the discovery of his brutal murder. His neighbor Denton Stringer reported concerns, but suspicion soon fell on Denton's granddaughter, Taylor Elkins, who was found driving William's stolen car. After intense interrogation and evidence gathering, Taylor confessed to the murder, revealing a tragic story of violence and deception.
On July 11th, 2019, officers in Fort Smith responded to a welfare check request at 1802 Greenwood Avenue. The call came from Denton Stringer, a neighbor concerned about 72-year-old William Dubois, who lived alone and had not been seen for days. Denton had heard a strange noise a few days earlier and noticed William's car was missing.
When officers arrived, William's car—a brand new red Ford Focus—was absent from the driveway. This was unusual, as William was not the type to disappear without notice. The officers knocked on the door but received no answer. All the blinds were tightly shut, and a strong, unpleasant smell emanated from the house, raising further concerns.
Denton could not provide much information, only that William was known as Bill and that his car had been gone for two or three days. The officers checked for any recent accidents involving a car like William's but found none. They also noted no signs of forced entry into the house.
After contacting the landlord, Bob, who had a spare key, officers entered the home. Inside, they found William's body in the bathroom. The scene was grim, with blood splatter in several parts of the house and many electronics missing. William's car was also missing. The evidence suggested a violent struggle, possibly a burglary gone wrong.
Despite the violence, there were no signs of forced entry, indicating the perpetrator likely had a key and knew William personally.
Denton Stringer, the neighbor who called the welfare check, became a person of interest due to his proximity and knowledge of the situation. However, further investigation revealed that Denton was not directly involved in the crime.
The missing red Ford Focus was tracked using a phone app by William's wife, Susan Dubois. The car was located in a residential neighborhood, parked at a house leased by Randall Perkins.
Police arrived at the house where the car was found and detained two people outside. Others inside barricaded themselves but eventually came out. Among them was Taylor Elkins, a 21-year-old mother of two with a long criminal record. Taylor was identified as Denton Stringer's granddaughter and became the main suspect.
Taylor admitted to driving the red Ford Focus but claimed she had borrowed it from a man named Shawn, whom she barely knew. However, police discovered inconsistencies in her story, including that Shawn was in jail at the time she claimed to have received the car.
During intense questioning, Taylor's stories changed multiple times. She initially denied involvement in William's death but later admitted to being at the scene. She claimed a man named Joe Rogers was responsible for the murder and that she only knocked on the door to facilitate the robbery.
Detectives confronted Taylor with evidence, including CCTV footage and hair samples found at the crime scene matching hers. Despite her attempts to deflect blame, the mounting evidence pointed directly to her.
While in custody, Taylor confessed to another inmate that she had gone to William's home intending to borrow money. When he refused, she became angry and attacked him with a hammer, resulting in his death. The names Shawn, Joe Rogers, and Denton Stringer were used by Taylor to mislead investigators.
On October 9th, 2019, Taylor Elkins was charged with first-degree murder. In January 2020, she accepted a plea deal, avoiding a life sentence but receiving over 40 years in prison, with her first parole eligibility set for 2015.
What began as a routine welfare check revealed a tragic and violent crime. The investigation uncovered a web of lies and deception, ultimately leading to justice for William Dubois. This case highlights the importance of thorough police work and the complexities involved in uncovering the truth behind violent crimes.
If you found this case compelling, stay tuned for more real-life stories that delve into the depths of human behavior and the pursuit of justice.
