Woman pleads guilty in killing cover-up

HOT SPRINGS — The second of several suspects arrested in the death of a man whose body was found dumped at Greenwood Cemetery last year has pleaded guilty to her part in disposing of the body and covering up the crime.

Melissa Jere Wineland, 38, of Hot Springs, who has remained in custody since her arrest Feb. 28, pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court on Monday to a felony count of tampering with physical evidence and was sentenced to the maximum of six years in prison, with four years suspended. Court costs were expunged for time served.

Wineland also pleaded guilty to felony charges of possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver and possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver and was sentenced to two years in prison on each count to run concurrently. Her probation from a 2015 conviction on drug charges was also revoked.

Wineland was charged in the death of Cory Richardson, 31, whose body was found Oct. 23 next to the cemetery’s main entrance at 701 Greenwood Ave.

Jake Lynn Norwood, 29, of Hot Springs, who police said was an accomplice, pleaded no contest July 23 to a felony count of tampering with physical evidence and was sentenced to six years in prison.

Police have arrested four others on various charges in the death of Richardson.

Norwood was arrested Nov. 5, and James Dean Keyser, 28, of Hot Springs was arrested Nov. 24. Each was charged with tampering with physical evidence. On Nov. 15, police arrested Steven Wood, 43, of Hot Springs on a felony charge of first-degree murder. Stephanie Shell, 22, of Malvern was arrested at the same time and charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, punishable by up to 20 years.

In early December, Hot Springs police asked for the public’s help in locating Donald Franklin Williams, 55, and John Patrick Walker, 43, both sought for first-degree murder in Richardson’s death. Walker was apprehended Dec. 19 in Garland County by SWAT team members, and Williams was arrested in Rockwall, Texas, on Dec. 29.

Williams, who was facing several felony charges in Texas at the time of his arrest there, is awaiting extradition to Hot Springs. If convicted, Williams, Parker and Wood could face up to life in prison for Richardson’s death.