Police investigate body found outside ex-lawmaker's home

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Republican Party officials reported the death of a former state lawmaker the same day that unidentified human remains were found outside her home, and authorities said Wednesday that they're investigating the case as a homicide.

The remains were found Tuesday outside the home in Pocahontas, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock, Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said. He declined to identify the victim and said the state medical examiner may confirm the identity of the remains later Wednesday. Prosecutor Henry Boyce said the body was a woman's, but said its condition prevented any immediate positive identification.

Property records show the home belonged to former state Sen. Linda Collins-Smith, 57, and her ex-husband, retired Circuit Judge Philip Smith. The state GOP tweeted Tuesday night that Collins-Smith had died, but provided no details.

The state crime lab was determining the cause and manner of death, police said. A Randolph County judge granted Boyce's request for an order sealing the documents and statements obtained by police during the investigation.

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