Edward Lee Vanscoy III

      A Baxter County Jail Inmate, 19 year old EDWARD LEE VANSCOY III of rural Mountain Home, who has been incarcerated since September 30, 2016 on a Bond Revocation related to charges filed in 2015 for Sexual Indecency With A Child and Sexual Assault, is now facing an additional charge of Rape.

     On June 23, 2016, Sheriff’s Investigators were contacted by the Arkansas Crimes Against Children Division (CACD) stating they had received a complaint that a 12 year old child alleged she had been raped by EDWARD VANSCOY III approximately three weeks prior.   The rape was alleged to have occurred in VANSCOY’s home.  The child and VANSCOY were acquaintances.

     A physical examination was subsequently performed on the child at an appropriate facility.  An undergarment of the child had also been preserved by the parent, which was taken into evidence.  Evidence was submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis.  DNA evidence was later found by the laboratory to be present on the garment when it was analyzed. 

     On September 16, 2016, Investigators obtained a search warrant to collect a sample of VANSCOY’s DNA for comparative analysis.  This sample was taken and submitted to the crime laboratory.  Today, Sheriff’s Investigators were notified by the crime laboratory that there was a match between the DNA evidence found on the child’s undergarment and VANSCOY’s DNA that had been obtained pursuant to the search warrant.

     Charges have been filed against EDWARD VANSCOY III for Rape, a Class Y Felony. VANSCOY made an initial appearance this morning in Baxter County Circuit Court on this charge and will appear again for formal arraignment on January 26th.  The Circuit Judge set bond at $100,000 on this Rape charge.

/s/ John F. Montgomery,
Baxter County Sheriff