Police: Sydney Sutherland was abducted, raped; Arkansas man faces capital murder charge

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — An Arkansas man faces charges of capital murder, rape and kidnapping in the death of 25-year-old Sydney Sutherland, authorities said Monday.

Quake Lewellyn, 28, of Newport, was arrested in the case Friday evening, hours after authorities found Sutherland's body.

Sutherland had been missing since Wednesday afternoon. She vanished while she was jogging near Highway 18 between Newport and Grubbs. Sutherland's vehicle and other personal items were found at her home. Her cellphone was found nearby.

Arkansas State Police special agent Mike McNeill said during a probable cause hearing Monday in Jackson County court that Lewellyn encountered Sutherland on County Road 41. McNeill testified that Lewellyn turned his truck around and forced Sutherland into the back of the vehicle. McNeill said Lewellyn drove about three miles to a farm where he raped Sutherland, killed her and buried the body.

A group of around 30 people close to Sutherland were in the courtroom during the hearing. A few family members cried as they and Lewellyn waited for the judge to come into the courtroom. They cried again when McNeill described his interview with Lewellyn.

Lewellyn appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and bullet-resistant vest. He did not speak as authorities escorted him into the building.

Lewellyn is being held without bond. A formal arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 1.

A previous version of this story misspelled Mike McNeill's last name.