Arkansas man pleads guilty to kidnapping, killing 91-year-old World War II veteran

25-year-old Tommy Lee Trosper
25-year-old Tommy Lee Trosper

SEARCY -- A White County man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping in the April death of an elderly man.

Tommy Trosper, 25, of Searcy entered the negotiated plea Monday in White County Circuit Court in the death of Edward Franklin Vaughn, 91, of Judsonia, Prosecuting Attorney Rebecca Reed McCoy said Tuesday. Vaughn was a veteran of World War II.

Trosper also pleaded guilty in an unrelated case to theft by receiving and criminal attempt to commit theft of property.

Judge Robert Edwards sentenced Trosper to a total of 25 years in prison in the murder and kidnapping case and to a consecutive 15 years in the other case.

The earliest that Trosper will be eligible for parole would be in 20 years, McCoy said.

Trosper originally was charged with capital murder and kidnapping. His co-defendant, James "Jake" Miller, 22, of Griffithville is awaiting trial on those charges.

McCoy declined to discuss a motive in the case.

The sheriff's office has said Vaughn met the men after they asked about a car he had for sale.

"The victim followed the two suspects to another location where the suspects then bound his hands and assaulted him," the sheriff's office said.

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State Desk on 01/24/2018

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