Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Jan. 24, 2025 – An Orlando man has been accused of killing a Craighead County man who drowned in 2021.
On Jan. 21, Craighead County Sheriff’s Captain Ron Richardson was contacted by Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office Detective Deven Stroud. He told Richardson that 30-year-old Ethan Curtis was incarcerated at the Poinsett County Jail and had requested to speak with him.
Stroud said Curtis told him he’d killed a man in Craighead County he called “Junior.” Curtis also told Stroud he didn’t know “Junior’s” last name, but that he was married to a man named Glenn.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Richardson was familiar with the case. On March 20, 2021, Lesslie Blagg, also known as “Junior,” was reported missing, with his car being found on a levee in Craighead County. Blagg’s body was found in the waters after days of searching, and autopsy results ruled the cause of death as drowning.
Richardson went to the Poinsett County Jail and interviewed Curtis, during which “Junior” was identified as Blagg. Curtis told the captain Blagg had picked him up from his home and they rode around while smoking meth.
Curtis then said they got out of the car on the levee, and Blagg began to accuse Curtis of messing with his husband. Blagg reportedly pulled a knife on Curtis, and Curtis got it out of his hand. The two men then struggled, and Curtis began choking Blagg until he almost lost consciousness, the affidavit said. Curtis then said he pushed Blagg into the water.
Curtis agreed to return to the scene with detectives on Jan. 23 to see if he could show officers where the incident occurred. Before they got to where the car was found, Curtis told officers he’d lied and that he didn’t kill Blagg in self-defense.
According to the affidavit, when the two were riding around, Curtis decided to kill Blagg. Curtis told officers he was “sorry for lying,” and was “trying to make it look like self-defense.”
Curtis then showed officers a trail and told them he tried to push Blagg into the water. He said they began to struggle and that Blagg asked him to stop. Curtis continued until he got Blagg in the water, the affidavit said, and each time Blagg attempted to leave the water, Curtis would kick him to keep him down.
Curtis said these kicks “weren’t hard, just enough to keep him in the water.” Curtis told officers he did this until Blagg didn’t resurface.
Curtis is charged with one count of second-degree homicide, a Class A felony. A Class A felony carries up to a $15,000 fine and six to 30 years in prison.
He was given a $500,000 cash or surety bond and his next court date is set for March 21 at 8:30 a.m. If Curtis makes bond, he will be required to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
