Trumann, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A Trumann man is currently being held on a $1 million bond in Tennessee following a suspicious person call led to his arrest in connection with a missing person investigation and the discovery of suspected human remains.
Rudy Ray, 56, was arrested Aug. 21, by the Franklin police officers in Franklin, TN who were responding to a report of a suspicious person.
According to a news release, after finding and identifying Ray, authorities coordinated with law enforcement in Arkansas, learning that the Trumann Police Department was in the process of obtaining warrants for his arrest.
| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now
Ray currently faces charges in Trumann for abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. The charges stem from an investigation that began on Aug. 14, when Trumann police received a missing-person report regarding Rebecca Spray, who was last seen around June 30.
On the same morning of Ray’s arrest in Tennessee, local and state SWAT teams executed a search warrant at his listed address of 401 N. Pine Street in Trumann.
During the search, investigators discovered what they believed to be human remains, which were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. The identity and the cause of death have not been released at this time.
| READ MORE: Trumann Missing Person Investigation Leads to Discovery of Human Remains, Man Arrested in Tennessee
After being discovered at the truck stop, Franklin police officers arrested Ray on a charge from fugitive from justice. He remains in the Williamson County Jail while arrangements are made for his extradition back to Arkansas.
“The arrest highlights the thorough investigative work of the Franklin officers who responded to what initially appeared to be a suspicious person call and continued working to determine Ray’s identity and circumstances before uncovering his connection to the Arkansas investigation,” the release stated.
Trumann police are continuing to handle the underlying missing person investigation and pending Arkansas charges. Several agencies are assisting including the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and the FBI. Authorities expect additional charges to be filed as the investigation continues.
This is a developing story. JRN will provide updates as they are available.
| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter