Court records on alleged killer released in Sydney Sutherland case
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Prosecutors say a man accused of capital murder and rape in the death of a Jackson County woman earlier this year hit the woman with his vehicle, then raped her, according to a probable cause affidavit released Friday.
Quake Lewellyn, 28, was arrested in August on suspicion of kidnapping and abuse of a corpse in the case. Jackson County deputies got a call on Aug. 19 about 25-year-old Sydney Sutherland being missing. Authorities found her phone on Aug. 20 in a field near her home, according to KATV content partner Region 8 News.
Police said in the affidavit that Lewellyn saw Sutherland running on County Road 41 before she disappeared and that a search of his phone netted evidence in the case.
“During a consent search of Quake Lewellyn’s phone, agents located a location services application that tracks the phone’s geographical location. Approximately an hour after Sutherland was discovered missing, Lewellyn’s location services application indicated that he was at a geographical location approximately 2.36 miles from where Sutherland’s phone was located,” the affidavit said.
Sutherland’s body was found Aug. 21, just yards from where the app indicated where Lewellyn was, authorities said in the affidavit. Lewellyn was given his Miranda rights and was interviewed.
“Lewellyn stated that he struck Sutherland with his vehicle. Lewellyn stated he then loaded Sutherland up into his pickup and transported her to the area indicated on the location services application,” the affidavit said.
Arkansas State Police said in the affidavit that Lewellyn told them that he then raped and buried Sutherland. He also joined a volunteer group that searched for her after she went missing, volunteers said.
The state medical examiner found that Sutherland's death was caused by multiple blunt force injuries.
Lewellyn, who is being held without bond, is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 29 for arraignment.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
