FORT SMITH -- A Crawford County man who authorities believe was depressed over his breakup with a girlfriend Sunday stabbed the ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend to death, then killed himself in what was likely a prescription drug overdose, Fort Smith police said Monday.
A news release from police spokesman Sgt. Daniel Grubbs said authorities believe Bradley Joe White Jr., 24, of Mountainburg broke into Bobbie Jo Willhite's apartment at 500 N. 12th St. about 3 a.m. Sunday by breaking through a kitchen window.
White stabbed Willhite, 23, multiple times in her bedroom, killing her, then stabbed Willhite's boyfriend, Rocky Dee Prater Jr., 27, as he lay on a mattress on the bedroom floor, the release said.
Prater was still alive when police arrived after receiving a 911 call about 3:30 a.m., the release said. He was stabilized and transported by air to a hospital in Tulsa, where he died from his wounds about 2 p.m.
The news release said White and Willhite had been living together at White's home on Peters Court in Mountainburg but recently split up. According to the release, Willhite leased the apartment in Fort Smith on Jan. 5, and she and Prater began their relationship around the same time.
A Crawford County deputy conducting a parole search for White found him breathing but unresponsive in his home Sunday, the news release said. Emergency medical personnel were called to the home but could not revive him.
Police believe he overdosed on drugs because they found several prescription pills under his body.
Police also found a handwritten note that said, "I cannot go on living without Bobbie," the release said. Neighbors and friends of White told police that he was extremely depressed over his breakup with Willhite.
Police did not recover a weapon used in the attack on Willhite and Prater, the release said.
All three bodies will be sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for autopsy, according to police.
Metro on 01/20/2015