Suspect sought for evidence tampering
Hot Springs police on Wednesday said they are seeking a second suspect for evidence tampering in relation to a homicide victim whose body was dumped in Greenwood Cemetery last month.
The Hot Springs
Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division said it has an active warrant for Jake Norwood, 28, for felony tampering with physical evidence, in relation to the Cory D. Richardson homicide investigation.
Anyone with information about Norwood was asked to call 911 or contact Hot Springs police Detective Scott Lampinen at 501-321-6789, ext. 6741.
The body of Richardson, 31, of Hot Springs, was found the morning of Oct.
23 on a hillside to the east of the cemetery’s main entrance at 701 Greenwood Ave. by a resident who was walking his dog. Hot Springs police say Richardson’s death is being investigated as a homicide.
Melissa J. Wineland, 37, was charged with tampering with evidence, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, in connection with moving the body to the cemetery. Wineland, who pleaded not guilty to the charge, remains in custody at the Garland County Detention Center.
According to an affidavit for a search warrant for a residence on North Patterson that was filed in district court Oct. 25, Richardson had apparent trauma to his body, including a bullet wound to his upper left buttocks. The other trauma was not specified in the affidavit.
At around noon Oct. 23, a witness came forward and told police Wineland had borrowed their car at around 11 p.m. Oct.
22 and returned it at around
10:30 a.m. the next day, confiding to the witness that she had used it to dump Richardson’s body in the cemetery.
The witness stated Wineland said Richardson came to her house on North Patterson and an “altercation ensued between him and an unknown suspect,” the affidavit said.
As Richardson attempted to flee the residence, Wineland allegedly told the witness, he was shot in the buttocks, a detail at the time known only by investigators.
The affidavit does not state the manner of Richardson’s death, or whether it occurred at the North Patterson location.
A large amount of suspected blood was reportedly located in the back seat area of the witness’ car, the affidavit said.
The search warrant specifically included forensic evidence, DNA, latent prints, trace evidence, bodily fluids, weapons and shell casings.