Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Former NWA couple charged with murder of 3-year-old girl
Two people with ties to Northwest Arkansas have been charged with the murder of a 3-year-old girl in California, according to a court document.
Angela Phakhin, 27, and Untwan Smith, 46, were arraigned Friday in Superior Court in Sacramento, Calif.
Detectives arrested Phakhin and Smith on Wednesday in Rancho Cordova, Calif., in connection with child endangerment and conspiracy.
A police officer noticed the couple near their white Toyota RAV4, which was parked the wrong way on Rod Beaudry Drive at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release. Officers searched the car and found the child under blankets in the back seat. The girl was declared dead at the scene.
Phakhin and Smith will be prosecuted by the Sacramento County district attorney. Their next court date is July 10.
Detectives believe Phakhin and Smith arrived in California in February and have been living with the child in the vehicle throughout the city and county, according to the release.
The last known address for Smith is 5439 W. Clevenger Drive in Fayetteville, according to an arrest warrant. The most recent address for Phakhin is 1397 Austin St. in Springdale, according to a court document.
Smith had an arrest warrant out of Prairie Grove District Court for several misdemeanors in 2016. He was convicted of terroristic threatening and possession of a firearm by a felon in Washington County Circuit Court in 2003.