Linda Collins

{{Short description|American politician and businesswoman (1962–2019)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Linda Collins

| image = File:Linda Collins.jpg

| state_senate = Arkansas

| district = 19th

| term_start = January 12, 2015

| term_end = January 14, 2019

| predecessor = David Wyatt

| successor = James Sturch

| state_house2 = Arkansas

| district2 = 80th

| term_start2 = January 10, 2011

| term_end2 = January 14, 2013

| predecessor2 = David Cook

| successor2 = Charlene Fite

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1962|04|17}}

| birth_place = Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|05|28|1962|04|17}}

| death_place = Pocahontas, Arkansas, U.S.

| resting_place =

| profession = Hotelier

| party = Republican (2011–2019)

| otherparty = Democratic (until 2011)

| spouse = Philip Smith ({{Abbr|div.|divorced}} 2018)

| children = 2

| alma_mater =

| religion =

| image name =

| bodyclass =

| mainwidth =

}}

Linda F. Collins (April 17, 1962 – May 28, 2019; known as Linda Collins-Smith until her divorce) was an American businesswoman and politician who served a single term from 2015 to 2019 as a Republican member of the Arkansas Senate.

On June 4, 2019, she was found stabbed to death. Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell, a former campaign worker, was convicted of the murder.

Early life and career

Collins was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, and was native to the area.{{cite web |url=https://www.fearsfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituary/linda-collins |title=Obituary: Linda F. Collins of Pocahontas, Arkansas: 1962 - 2019 |publisher=Fears Family Funeral Home |access-date=June 11, 2019 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706053136/https://www.fearsfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituary/linda-collins |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2019-06-07|title=Former Arkansas state legislator Linda Collins-Smith reportedly a victim of homicide|url=https://us.blastingnews.com/news/2019/06/former-arkansas-state-legislator-linda-collins-smith-reportedly-a-victim-of-homicide-002926203.html|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Blasting News|language=en}} However, she was educated in Williford, Arkansas.{{Cite web|url=https://www.areawidenews.com/story/1553483.html|title = Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position|date = July 9, 2009}} Her family was very poor, living 10 miles down a gravel road, in a home that didn't have running water until her teen years. According to her campaign website "her background taught her the value of hard work, and the blessing of living in a land where everyone, from the poor country girl to the inner city street kid, had the opportunity to achieve their dreams through industry and determination."{{Cite web|last=McBride|first=Jessica|date=2019-06-05|title=Linda Collins-Smith: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|url=https://heavy.com/news/2019/06/linda-collins-smith/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106194044/https://heavy.com/news/2019/06/linda-collins-smith/|archive-date=November 6, 2019|access-date=2019-11-06|website=Heavy.com|language=en}}

Since at least 2001, Collins owned and operated the Days Inn in Pocahontas, which was sold in 2016. Before owning Days Inn she was a real estate agent.

Political career

= Affiliation =

According to her obituary:{{Cite web|title=Linda Collins Obituary|url=https://memorial.fearsfamilyfuneralhome.com/linda-collins/3969545/obituary.php}} {{Blockquote

|text="[S]he was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. She was a member of the following organizations: Gun Owners of America, Arkansas Hospitality Association, National Federation of Independent Business, Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Randolph County Arkansas Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Arkansas Lodging Association, Lower Mississippi Delta Development Council, and the Arkansas Federation of Republican Women. Linda was also proud to be the founder of the Randolph County Tourism Association and a supporter of the Patriots of Act 746, in Arkansas."

}}

= House of Representatives =

Prior to her Senate service, Collins was a one-term member from 2011 to 2013 of the Arkansas House of Representatives from District 80.{{Cite web |url=http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1553483.html |title=Local News: Collins-Smith seeks District 80 State Rep position (07/09/09) |publisher=Area Wide News |date=July 9, 2009 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-date=August 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803051059/http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1553483.html |url-status=live }} Though elected as a Democrat, she switched parties in August 2011, eight months after taking office.{{Cite news |url=http://talkbusiness.net/2011/08/rep-collins-smith-joins-republican-ranks-updated/ |title=Rep. Collins-Smith Joins Republican Ranks (updated) |website=Talkbusiness.net |date=August 8, 2011 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203946/http://talkbusiness.net/2011/08/rep-collins-smith-joins-republican-ranks-updated/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |author=Andrew Demillo |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700169738/Arkansas-Rep-Linda-Collins-Smith-switches-to-GOP.html |title=Arkansas Rep. Linda Collins-Smith switches to GOP |newspaper=Deseret News |date=August 10, 2011 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202049/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700169738/Arkansas-Rep-Linda-Collins-Smith-switches-to-GOP.html |url-status=dead }}

= Senate =

In redistricting, Collins was moved to the same 61st House district as Republican incumbent Lori Benedict. Therefore, Collins chose to run for the Arkansas Senate in the 19th district, rather than challenge Benedict.{{Cite web |author=Tammy Curtis |url=http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1788365.html |title=Local News: Collins-Smith announces State Senate candidacy |publisher=Area Wide News |date=November 26, 2011 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201029/http://www.areawidenews.com/story/1788365.html |url-status=live }} Incumbent Democratic Senator David Wyatt defeated her in the 2012 general election, but on November 4, 2014, she beat Democrat James McLean for the seat. Wyatt died shortly thereafter.

== Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act ==

In 2017, Collins introduced Senate Bill 774, the Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act, which would prohibit people, including transgender people, from entering government restrooms or changing facilities designated for the opposite sex, as it pertains to "a person’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics existing at the time of birth.”{{Cite news|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/07/intelligent-design-instruction-urged-ne/|title=New bill specifies use of bathrooms in Arkansas government buildings|work=Arkansas Online|access-date=March 8, 2017|archive-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308134051/http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/mar/07/intelligent-design-instruction-urged-ne/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=https://rewire.news/legislative-tracker/law/arkansas-physical-privacy-safety-act-sb-774/ |title="Arkansas Physical Privacy and Safety Act (SB 774)", Rewire.News Legislative Tracker |access-date=June 12, 2019 |archive-date=August 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812140604/https://rewire.news/legislative-tracker/law/arkansas-physical-privacy-safety-act-sb-774/ |url-status=live }} She said the bill would set a baseline for privacy across the state and shield public schools from lawsuits by organizations "seeking to impose their anti-privacy agenda on our children."{{Cite news|url=http://www.thv11.com/news/local/ark-legislator-proposes-another-bathroom-bill-after-withdrawal-of-previous-bill/420282153|title=Ark. legislator proposes 'bathroom bill' after other legislator withdraws previous bill|last=TEGNA|work=KTHV|access-date=March 8, 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=March 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308035856/http://www.thv11.com/news/local/ark-legislator-proposes-another-bathroom-bill-after-withdrawal-of-previous-bill/420282153|url-status=live}} It did not pass.

== True Campus Carry Act ==

In 2017, Collins announced the True Campus Carry Act, which would have allowed concealed-carry license holders to walk armed on campus with no additional training.{{Cite web|date=2018-05-21|title=Battle over health care, guns marks Arkansas Senate race|url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/may/21/battle-over-health-care-guns-marks-sena/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Arkansas Online|language=en}}

== 2018 Republican Primary ==

Collins frequently butted heads with Governor Asa Hutchinson, both as a result of her proposed legislation as well as her opposition to Medicaid expansion in the state. In May 2018, state representative James Sturch challenged Collins in that month's Republican state senate primary, garnering Hutchinson's support.{{cite web|first=John|last=Moritz|title=Battle over health care, guns marks Arkansas Senate race|work=Arkansas Democrat-Gazette|date=May 21, 2018|url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2018/may/21/battle-over-health-care-guns-marks-sena/|accessdate=July 4, 2022}} Collins lost a close race, with 4,726 votes to Sturch's 5,299.{{cite web|first=George|last=Jared|title=Collins-Smith loses State Senate seat; Rep. Sullivan survives primary challenge|work=KASU|date=May 23, 2018|url=https://www.kasu.org/show/talk-business/2018-05-23/collins-smith-loses-state-senate-seat-rep-sullivan-survives-primary-challenge|accessdate=July 4, 2022}}

Personal life

Collins was married to Philip Smith, a circuit court judge who was disgraced after a 2017 scandal. She filed for divorce that November.{{cite news|author=Michael Hibblen|date=June 10, 2019|title=Services Scheduled For Former Arkansas State Sen. Linda Collins-Smith|publisher=KUAR|url=https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/services-scheduled-former-arkansas-state-sen-linda-collins-smith|url-status=live|access-date=June 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611122143/https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/services-scheduled-former-arkansas-state-sen-linda-collins-smith|archive-date=June 11, 2019}} They had two children and three grandchildren.

Murder

On June 4, 2019, Collins' father and son found her body outside her home in Pocahontas; she had died of stab wounds (initially reported as gunshot wounds).{{Cite news|url = http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_3d2ea538-8749-11e9-b009-3367fa47434f.html|title = Former state senator found dead from gunshot wound|work = Magnolia Reporter|date = June 4, 2019|access-date = June 5, 2019|archive-date = June 5, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190605043639/http://www.magnoliareporter.com/news_and_business/regional_news/article_3d2ea538-8749-11e9-b009-3367fa47434f.html|url-status = live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/rebecca-odonnell-facing-death-penalty-in-former-sen-collins-murder-case/91-775100be-e4b3-4946-967a-28ad22bd6eed|title=Rebecca O'Donnell facing death penalty in former Sen. Collins murder case|website=KTHV|access-date=2019-11-06|archive-date=November 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106172447/https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/rebecca-odonnell-facing-death-penalty-in-former-sen-collins-murder-case/91-775100be-e4b3-4946-967a-28ad22bd6eed|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecutors-seek-death-penalty-suspect-shooting-death-arkansas/story?id=64663941|title=Prosecutors to seek death penalty for suspect in shooting death of former senator|website=ABC News|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06|archive-date=December 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203090049/https://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecutors-seek-death-penalty-suspect-shooting-death-arkansas/story?id=64663941|url-status=live}}

On June 17, Rebecca Lynn O’Donnell of Pocahontas, a former campaign worker and personal friend of Collins, was charged with capital murder, tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.{{cite news |url=https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/arrest-made-in-connection-to-death-of-linda-collins-smith/91-1341470e-c721-442e-955b-15e233edfd5f |title=Arrest made in connection to death of Linda Collins-Smith |publisher=THV11 |date=June 17, 2019 |orig-year=June 14, 2019 |access-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-date=June 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615021730/https://www.thv11.com/article/news/crime/arrest-made-in-connection-to-death-of-linda-collins-smith/91-1341470e-c721-442e-955b-15e233edfd5f |url-status=live }}{{cite news |author=Andrew Demillo |url=https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Arkansas-woman-charged-with-murder-in-14005410.php |title=Arkansas woman charged with murder in ex-senator's killing |newspaper=Houston Chronicle |agency=AP |date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=June 18, 2019 |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617194747/https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Arkansas-woman-charged-with-murder-in-14005410.php |url-status=dead }} She initially pleaded not guilty on all three counts, but later pled guilty to murdering Collins and abusing her corpse. On Aug. 6, 2020, O’Donnell pleaded guilty to murder. "I intentionally killed her and then hid the body,” she said during court proceedings. The next day, she was sentenced to 43 years in prison.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/ex-aide-pleads-guilty-to-murder-of-conservative-arkansas-state-senator-linda-collins|title=Ex-aide pleads guilty to murder of conservative Arkansas state senator Linda Collins|date=August 7, 2020|website=foxnews.com|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810031439/https://www.foxnews.com/us/ex-aide-pleads-guilty-to-murder-of-conservative-arkansas-state-senator-linda-collins|url-status=live}}

Investigators determined that O'Donnell killed Collins on May 28.{{cite web|first=Max|last=Brantley|title=Family seeks protection of some files in Linda Collins murder investigation|work=Arkansas Times|date=August 25, 2020|url=https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2020/08/25/family-seeks-protection-of-some-files-in-linda-collins-murder-investigation|accessdate=July 4, 2022}} According to Collins' son, O'Donnell constantly stole money from her and "snapped" when she was confronted about it.{{Cite web|url=https://katv.com/news/local/rebecca-o-donnell-pleads-guilty-to-murdering-former-senator-linda-collins|title = Rebecca O' Donnell pleads guilty to murdering former senator Linda Collins|date = August 6, 2020}} However, O’Donnell claimed Collins had not had any income since January and she was taking the money out of a hotel they mutually owned to pay Linda’s bills.{{Cite web|last=Newsdesk|first=Region 8|date=|title=NEW DETAILS: Rebecca O'Donnell, a bloody knife and a chicken|url=https://www.kait8.com/2020/08/14/new-details-rebecca-odonnell-bloody-knife-chicken/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=KAIT|language=en-US}}

In July 2024, a new Dateline episode was released detailing the murder, titled The Hands of the Killer.