Investigators 'starting over' in Sidney Randall case

Submitted by Janice Broach, Reporter

Monday, April 29th, 2013, 10:23pm

It was heartbreaking when Denise Cornell's 14-year-old daughter's school photo showed up two weeks after she disappeared.

(WMC-TV) - Officials in Arkansas are starting from scratch in the search for missing teen Sidney Randall.

Randall, a beauty pageant contestant and member of her school's flag line, disappeared almost eight weeks ago from her Walnut Ridge home. Extensive searches have turned up nothing.

It was heartbreaking when Denise Cornell's 14-year-old daughter's school photo showed up two weeks after she disappeared.

"I look for her everyday," said Denise.

Sidney Randall disappeared March 9. The next day her stepfather John Cornell was discovered in a remote area a few miles from the home. Investigators said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot. There were allegations Cornell sexually abused his 14-year-old stepdaughter.

"He's never been in trouble. He doesn't do anything illegal," said father Bill Cornell.

Investigators said they have no proof of any sexual abuse. His, sister who lives in Australia, does not believe it.

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Wakarusa celebrates 10 years

Submitted by Allyson Aycock on Saturday, April 27th, 5:37 pm

Its one of the biggest camping-music festivals in the mid-south and this year it prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Situated in the breath-taking Ozark Mountains, atop Mulberry Mountain, Wakarusa is barely a month away. Music enthusiasts in the tens of thousands will soon be making their annual pilgrimage to Northwestern Arkansas for a four day music experience that offers much more than meets the eye.

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Weekend events postpone due to weather

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Friday, April 26th, 2013, 7:21pm

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Cyber-bullying jeopardizes teen's safety

Submitted by Lauren Squires on Thursday, April 25th, 6:35 pm

JONESBORO, AR- (WMC-TV) - A new form of cyber-bullying has put one Jonesboro teen's life in danger.

Ashley is 16. She started getting phone calls and text messages from men across the country after someone posted her number on the iPhone app, iFunny.

The message claimed she was 17 had "the most amazing C cup you'll ever see" and that she would send nude photos.

The girl has since changed her number after receiving a threat from one of the men. But the girl's mother is now trying to figure out who posted the note in the first place.

"She's depressed she wants to stay at home and not talk to anybody," said the teen's mother Becky who asked Action News 5 to not share the family's last name for privacy reasons. "Based on the post, the prankster used the 'notes app' [located] on most iphones. Then using that screen shot to post this to the iFunny app."

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A look ahead: Woman overcomes rare birth defect

Submitted by Ursula Madden on Thursday, April 25th, 11:44 am

WYNNE, AR- (WMC-TV) - The perfect pregnancy, mom, and baby by all accounts, until mom's water broke.

That is when doctors discovered the baby had a rare birth defect.

Donna Palmer was told her daughter would not survive.

"She will not survive over an hour. Well an hour went by and she had. And then, she wouldn't make it through the night, and they wanted to prepare me for what to do next," she explained.

Action News 5 has proof that miracles do happen.

Twenty years later, it is a world exclusive and is only being shared with Ursula Madden.

Do not miss a chance to be inspired by "One in a Million" airing Thursday on Action News 5 at 10 p.m.

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Woman is oldest living person born with rare birth defect

Submitted by Ursula Madden on Wednesday, April 24th, 12:08 pm

WYNNE, AR- (WMC-TV) - A Mid-South woman is in many ways the "girl next door" except she does not look like anyone you have ever seen before. Even more, she is not supposed to be alive.

Stephanie Turner lives in Wynne, Arkansas and we are asking that you look past her exterior into the hearts of a woman and her loving family, who are witnessing a modern-day miracle firsthand.

"There was a feeling something's not just normal here. That's when they rushed her straight from me. I looked at her dad and her dad just said, 'It's not good. She will not survive over an hour.' I didn't have any idea what to expect," said Stephanie's mother, Donna Palmer. "They just kept saying, 'Please be prepared.' Her mouth was swollen inside out."

"That was 20 years ago and 20 years ago people, babies didn't survive with what I have. It's like one in a million," added Stephanie.

Stephanie Turner is one in a million.

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Detectives continue search for Daisy Taylor's killer

Submitted by Ben Watson, Reporter

Monday, April 22nd, 2013, 6:00pm

(WMC-TV) - No one has ever been charged in the murder of Daisy Taylor, a woman whose body was found in a ditch near Marion, Arkansas in November 2012.

Taylor's family, as well as Arkansas investigators, are asking for your help.

Daisy Taylor made her home in Raleigh.

Investigators say that on the morning she disappeared she had spoken on the phone with a relative about picking up a check.

Relatives say about an hour later, a Crittenden County road worker found her body in a ditch.

"To know that someone would actually do this to her and then in broad daylight and then just leave her," said her daughter, Trinetta Cole.

Trinetta Cole is Taylor's daughter. She is hoping someone will come forward with information about who killed her 56-year-old mother and why.

Investigators say someone shot Taylor multiple times and dumped her body in the ditch.

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