Human remains identified in Mississippi County after 20 years

Northeast ArkansasTalk Politics

by George Jared ([email protected]) February 18, 2026 9:01 pm 392 views 

The remains of a man found in Mississippi County in 2006 have finally been identified. Little John Sutton was last seen on Aug. 1, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn., and his remains were discovered in the county on Sept. 27, 2006, according to the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.
The manner of death has been determined as homicide. 

“Advanced DNA testing conducted by Othram has resulted in the positive identification of remains found nearly 20 years ago in Mississippi County,” said Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin. “A positive ID was not possible at that time. He was reported missing by his half-sister on Oct. 30, 2006.”

Griffin asked for advanced DNA testing to be done in the case in September of last year. His office provides funds to help local law enforcement pay for advanced testing in cold cases, he added. 

“In December, Othram advised of a potential identification and identified a possible relative residing in Memphis,” Griffin said. “Agents from my office, working with the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office, collected a DNA sample from Mr. Sutton’s half-sister in January and submitted it to Othram to see if it was a match. Last week, Othram confirmed the match, officially identifying the remains as Little John Sutton.”

Griffin credited the agency’s Cold Case Unit with working with the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department and the county sheriff for asking for help. 

“This is yet another example of my office’s Cold Case Unit working seamlessly with local law enforcement to find answers,” Griffin said. “I pray that this identification brings closure to Mr. Sutton’s family and opens new leads in solving his murder. I am grateful to Mississippi County Sheriff Aubry Cook for reaching out to my office and requesting that we work alongside him and his deputies on this case.”