The Jefferson County prosecutor’s office has filed a murder charge against a 31-year-old man in the case of Joynell Brandon, who has been missing since May 13.
Tony Curtis Thompson Jr. has been charged with first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in Brandon’s case. The Pine Bluff Police Department announced the charges against Thompson on Sunday evening, adding that Brandon’s body had not been located.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and Pine Bluff Detectives continue to work closely with the victim’s family,” police said in the news release.
The prosecutor’s office filed charges in 11th West Circuit Court, and 1st Division Circuit Judge Alex Guynn set bail at $1 million secured on Dec. 12. A warrant for Thompson’s arrest was served Dec. 1, and his first court date is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 7.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
According to online court records, Thompson is accused of causing Brandon’s death on or about May 13 or 14. Records also state he “knowingly physically mistreated or concealed a corpse in a manner offensive to a person of reasonable sensibilities” on or about May 13 or 14.
First-degree murder is a Class Y felony punishable by 10 to 40 years in prison, and abuse of a corpse is a Class C felony punishable by three to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
Thompson also faces a firearm enhancement of 15 years to his sentence if convicted. He will be represented by a public defender.
According to a police affidavit, an officer took a missing-person report from Brandon’s daughter on May 14. The daughter stated she last saw Brandon when she dropped her off at a residence on Fluker Avenue at about 10 p.m. on May 13.
“Brandon texted (the daughter) later that night asking her to leave the door unlocked, but the following morning Brandon had not returned home, which (the daughter) said was unusual,” the affidavit reads. “Brandon was without her prescribed medication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A BOLO (be-on-the-lookout alert) was broadcast to all city officers.”
An officer responded to a call of a possible sighting of Brandon at 2203 E. Harding Ave. at about 10 p.m. May 15, according to the affidavit. A man reportedly told police Brandon was dropped off at his residence and that Brandon later left with a friend, identified as Thompson, in a white box truck.
Thompson reportedly confirmed he was driving the box truck and said he and Brandon went to a business at 211 E. Barraque St., about a block east of the Jefferson County Courthouse. The affidavit states that Thompson claimed he dropped Brandon off within a block of her residence near East Second Avenue and Pennsylvania Street, about three-quarters of a mile east of the East Barraque Street business, and that Thompson said he did not know where she went afterward.
On May 16, two Pine Bluff Police Department officers contacted Thompson at the East Harding Avenue address, according to the affidavit. The owner of the box truck consented to a search, and a 9-mm shell casing was located beneath the passenger seat, according to police. The truck was towed to the police armory for a search warrant.
A search of Thompson’s residence led to the recovery of a Glock 17 (9-mm) gun and multiple rounds, according to the affidavit. Thompson was interviewed and released pending further investigation, and his phone was seized, “pursuant to a warrant,” police said.
At approximately 10:30 a.m. May 17, according to the affidavit, an officer took a stolen vehicle report from Thompson’s mother, who said Thompson took her vehicle without permission at about 5 a.m. that day.
“She said Thompson had been acting strange and feared he was fleeing,” the affidavit reads. “Later that day, Arkansas State Police engaged in a pursuit with Thompson, who crashed near Altheimer and was taken into custody.”
Thompson reportedly gave a statement to police at about 8:28 p.m. and “provided a statement consistent with his prior version, denying involvement in Brandon’s disappearance,” according to the affidavit.
Thompson has been booked in the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Detention Center, the Jefferson County jail, since May 17, according to online jail records. He is also accused of fleeing in a vehicle or conveyance with substantial danger of causing death or serious physical injury, theft of property between $5,000 and $25,000, and first-degree criminal mischief in the case involving his mother. Fifth Division Circuit Judge Jodi Dennis set bail at $40,000 secured, and a jury trial in the case is set for Feb. 2.
On May 19, a detective executed a search warrant on the truck, reportedly locating a shell casing under the passenger seat and collecting multiple swabs for DNA testing.
That same day, according to the affidavit, Brandon’s family began receiving text messages saying that Brandon was being held for ransom and demanding $12,000 for her release.
“A surveillance operation was conducted using $2,500 in bait money,” police stated. “At approximately (6:30 p.m.), Italia Thompson arrived in a white Toyota Avalon, retrieved the money, and was stopped shortly after leaving.”
Italia Thompson and an accomplice were detained, according to police. The ransom messages reportedly stopped after the arrests.
Italia Thompson, 31, has been booked in the jail since May 27 on suspicion of theft of property and driving with a suspended or revoked license. Court records reveal that she was charged with theft of property and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, as she is accused of leaving her 7-year-old daughter, who is nonverbal and autistic, at home by herself on May 19.
The accomplice was not listed in the active jail roster, and charges against him were not found in online court records.
Italia Thompson was accused of demanding $12,000 from a man in exchange for Brandon, according to another police affidavit. Police said they found the $2,500 in bait money, which was in $20 bills, on the floorboard of the front passenger seat during a search of Italia Thompson’s vehicle.
A relative of Italia Thompson told police on June 2 that Italia Thompson admitted to tying a woman in a bag, placing her in a trunk and driving the vehicle into a lake, according to the affidavit. A report from the state Crime Laboratory on July 16 confirmed that Brandon’s blood was located inside the box truck on the driver-side interior door and passenger-side footwell.
Tony Thompson was advised of his Miranda rights July 22. Italia Thompson reportedly denied all involvement and knowledge of Brandon or Tony Thompson.
Italia Thompson’s bond was set at $100,000 on July 9. A jury trial is scheduled on 8 a.m. Jan. 26 for both of her filed charges.
At the family’s request, police ask anyone with further information to call the PBPD Detective’s Office at (870) 730-2090, submit tips at PBPD.org under Crime Tips, or call the tip line at (870) 730-2106.