Ex-senator’s killer out of state

Prison transfer is linked to unspecified security concerns

State prison officials have transferred the woman convicted of killing former state Sen. Linda Collins to an outof-state facility because of security concerns, a prison spokeswoman said Thursday.

The spokeswoman, Cindy Murphy, declined to say where officials placed Rebecca O’Donnell, 49, more than two months after she pleaded guilty to killing Collins and related crimes. O’Donnell received a 50-year sentence.

Murphy did confirm that a crime-victims notification went out Wednesday announcing the transfer. O’Donnell had previously been held at the McPherson Unit for women in Newport.

News of the transfer was first reported by KAIT-TV in Jonesboro.

“The transfer is consistent with how the department has handled other high-profile individuals,” Murphy said in a text message Thursday. “We cannot disclose her location.”

Murphy did not reply to follow-up questions on whether the Arkansas Department of Corrections was aware of any charges against O’Donnell in another state.

O’Donnell’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Ken Yang, who has served as a spokesman for the Collins family, tweeted Wednesday: “Linda’s family deserves to know why and where she has been moved to! She is a murderer, not someone who deserves special treatment.”

Prisoners who fear for their safety may request protective custody within the Department of Corrections, according to its administrative rules. Prisoners in protective custody may be kept separate from other prisoners or transferred to another unit.

Murphy did not say whether O’Donnell was in protective custody before the transfer.

O’Donnell was a friend and former campaign aide to Collins, a Republican lawmaker from Pocahontas. Shortly after the former senator was found dead on the property of her home in June 2019, police obtained security footage from inside Collins’ home showing O’Donnell stashing a kitchen knife in her purse with what appeared to be blood on her hands.

O’Donnell was arrested and charged with killing Collins on June 14, 2019, less than two weeks after the senator’s body was discovered.

While awaiting trial, O’Donnell was accused of attempting to recruit her fellow inmates at the Jackson County jail into a plot to kill Collins’ ex-husband and frame him for the murder.

O’Donnell, who pleaded guilty in August, was handed a seven-year sentence for the jailhouse plot, along with 43 years for killing Collins and attempting to hide the body.

Police and prosecutors have said they believe O’Donnell committed the murder over money.

However, a complete record of the investigative file has been blocked from release in a lawsuit by members of Collins’ family, who have raised concerns that their personal information is included in the trove of digital files police collected while building their case.

Because of diminished access to standardized testing during the pandemic, the university’s board of trustees temporarily suspended the requirement to require those test scores through the fall 2021 semester.

“For many years, public institutions of higher education in the state have relied on student standardized test scores, such as the ACT or SAT, for admission and to award academic scholarships,” said Kevin Thomas, associate vice president of enrollment management at UCA. “With the cancellation and postponement of standardized testing during the pandemic, access to standardized testing has presented challenges for high school juniors and seniors.”

Typically, the university, which has an enrollment of about 10,335, requires a minimum score of 21 on the ACT with a 2.75 grade point average, said UCA spokeswoman Amanda Hoelzeman. The average ACT score for firsttime undergraduates at UCA is 24.2, according to data from the university.

Any student scoring a 3.0 or higher on their sixth- or seventh-semester high school transcript will be fully admitted to the university during the spring, summer and fall 2021 semesters.

Students will not be at a disadvantage if they do not submit standardized test scores, Thomas said.

“High school grade point average has long been recognized by higher education administrators as being an effective way to predict student success,” he said.

Hoelzeman said prospective students may submit scores “so we can get to know you better.”

The university has financial aid available as well, either virtually or through the UCA financial aid page at: uca.edu/financialaid/

To assist students and families and answer questions about a variety of issues, the university has created a “Virtual Connections” system, in which students can schedule to meet virtually with representatives from various offices.

For instance, financial aid experts are available at 2 p.m. Wednesdays to discuss scholarships, financial aid and effective financial strategies to help students pay for college. Students can also call the Office of Financial Aid at (501) 450-3140 or schedule an appointment for another time.

Through Virtual Connections,

According to the most recent state Department of Health report, UCA has 31 active cases of covid-19. Since June 15, when the data collection began, UCA has seen 361 cases of the virus, with 296 students afflicted and 24 employees.

Many of the UCA staff are working remotely due to the pandemic. According to the university’s website, staff are checking their email and voicemail regularly and intend to return any messages within one business day.

The final day for any on-campus instruction will be Friday, Nov. 20. The typical four days of instruction following Thanksgiving, as well as final exams in December, will be conducted remotely this year.

The rest of the campus, including dorms, dining facilities and the library will remain open through the end of finals week in December.

The university has also expanded its covid-19 testing abilities by acquiring an Abbott ID NOW machine, which is PCR-based as opposed to antigen, and provides test results within 15 minutes.

“While our testing capabilities were already robust, the addition of this machine adds yet another layer to our ability to keep the campus community healthy,” Davis said. “UCA’s covid testing capacity continues to be in a very strong position relative to peer institutions nationally, and I am thankful to our leadership in our Student Health Clinic and our partnership with Conway Regional Health System.”

As of Oct. 27, UCA has administered 5,994 covid-19 tests with a positivity rate just above 4%, according to a weekly report released by the university. A graph in the report shows that the positivity rate peaked on Sept. 22 at nearly 5% and has declined each week since.

A university website — https://uca.edu/coronavirus/ — provides resources and information to answer any covid-19-related questions for faculty, staff, students and families.

Hoelzeman said the university has taken numerous precautions since the beginning of the pandemic, including planning and preparing for students to transition back to campus. The UCA faculty and staff worked out everything from how to maintain appropriate distancing in classrooms, dining facilities and common spaces, to how to set up quarantine and isolation housing on campus.

“We left no stone unturned as we worked to ensure a safe return for our entire campus community,” Hoelzeman said.

Masks are required in enclosed campus spaces, classroom seating does not exceed 66% of the room’s capacity and additional outdoor seating and picnic tables have been strategically placed throughout the campus in areas with a strong Wi-Fi signal, Hoelzeman added.