Body found on Balfour, suspect in custody

Body found on Balfour, suspect in custody

39- year- old West Memphis man facing murder charges

ralphhardin@gmail.com Lester Thomas, 39, of West Memphis, has been charged with one count of Murder in the First Degree following an incident yesterday afternoon that left one man dead.

On Wednesday, Aug. 31, at approximately 1:43 p.m., detectives with the West Memphis Criminal Investigation Division received information about a possible homicide at 408 Balfour St.

in West Memphis.

Detectives responded to the area and, based on information given to them, secured the house and all occupants of the house.

During a sweep of the property, searching for any possible injured persons, detectives located a deceased male in the rear of the residence.

“Several subjects that were at the residence were detained for interviews,” said Captain Joe Baker, WMPD Criminal Investigation Division Commander. “This is still a very active crime scene and at this time detectives are in the process of executing a search warrant on the property.”

Though no official cause of death has been released, early reports were that the victim had been bludgeoned to death. The victim’s name has not been released at this time Thomas will be arraigned in the West Memphis District Court on Friday, Sept. 2.

By Ralph Hardin