SILOAM SPRINGS - The prime suspect in a Siloam Springs cold case turned murder investigation is awaiting trial, after her arrest from a Siloam Springs hospital.
70-year-old Pauline Devor has been missing for two years now, with few leads, but authorities say Devor's daughter, 49-year-old Delores Jean Eggert, is now a prime suspect.
Authorities say they arrested Eggert from a Siloam Springs hospital Sunday on capitol murder charges.
Devor was a Cincinnati, Arkansas woman, missing for two years, and detectives say until now, leads on this cold case had dried up.
Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder says they never gave up searching for Devor. "They have dogged this thing to the bitter end and have never given up."
Now detectives say a witness has come forward concerning her involvement in Devor's murder. The witness reportedly says two years ago, she and Eggert lured Devor to a remote spot on the Devor Ranch, and killed her. Helder relates, "Eggert struck Pauline with a tire iron and shot her. Then witness stated she and Eggert then burned the body."
In June 2007, a different witness reportedly told police Eggert brought firearms belonging to Pauline's husband, Bob Devor, to his house.
According to investigators, the witness said Eggert asked him to keep them, saying her mother was gone, her home had been burglarized, and cash was missing. Police say Devor's husband gave them the same report that his wife and cash were missing when he returned home from a business trip. Helder says now, Bob Devor is a person of interest. "We didn't receive a lot of calls as you would normally, from family saying hey what are ya'll doing on this case? Where's my mom where's my wife - we weren't getting any of that."
In Siloam Springs, detectives and a UA archaeology team searching the Devor's 720-acre ranch found human bone fragments and teeth. Captain Dallas McClellan of the Washington County Sheriff's Office says,
"things that we may not be able to identify, they can identify as far as human bone, and be able to tell us the difference between human and animal." In a taped conversation with the witness, Helder says Eggert admitted to throwing Devor's remains over a bridge.
"After they burned the body numerous times to do away with the remains they sifted through and found what they could to do away with all the evidence."
Sheriff's officials say making headway in this case marks a major victory, but a sober one. Helder sums up: "it's just a sad day she wasn't found alive. Any time you're dealing with family involved in a homicide, it just makes it that much more disturbing."
Authorities say this investigation is ongoing. Right now, the witness has not been arrested or charged, but Eggert is being held in the Washington County Detention Center without bond.
Authorities say Eggert was had been taken to the Siloam Springs hospital for reportedly overdosing on pills. They say she had been trying to commit suicide.
Eggert's trial date is set for May 18th.
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