A Pine Bluff judge set a $500,000 cash bond Friday for Aubrey Smith, 47, who is charged with first-degree murder after a man's body was found wrapped in a blue tarp behind a house on Orlando Street. A woman investigators say was connected to the killing remained at large as of the hearing.
Prosecutors initially sought a capital-murder charge and no bond, but Judge Kim Bridgforth found probable cause to charge Smith with first-degree murder, according to Deltaplex News. Investigators had not positively identified the man whose body was found at the property as of the hearing, the outlet reported.
What Investigators Told the Court
Court documents cited by the Pine Bluff Commercial say the investigation began October 19, when a woman told police that her incarcerated boyfriend had information about a homicide. He directed investigators to the Orlando Street property, described a woman he said was involved and said the killing may have followed a dispute over pornographic DVDs. The man was reportedly seeking his own release in exchange for information.
On October 21, detectives located a woman matching the description outside Foodsmart. She reportedly acknowledged knowing about an incident at the Orlando Street residence, identified people associated with the property and gave investigators an address on West 25th Avenue where she said she was staying.
The Body and the Search
Investigators searched vacant residences along Orlando Street on October 21 and found pornographic material. They also noticed a strong odor of decomposition near a pond, but stopped the search when darkness prevented them from continuing.
A caretaker told investigators he had previously called 911 several times about suspicious activity and an unpleasant odor, and had seen a blue tarp on the property. When officers returned October 22, they found a man's body inside a tarp. Court documents describe injuries to the victim's head and neck as consistent with information investigators had received.
Smith Arrested; Woman Remains at Large
At the West 25th Avenue address, investigators found three men, including Smith. The woman reportedly fled through the back of the home as officers entered and remained at large as of Friday's hearing. Court documents say Smith did not give investigators a statement.
Two people interviewed by investigators reportedly described overhearing conversations between Smith and the woman about their alleged involvement. Court documents also say two other people had been asked to participate in the killing but did not appear when it happened; investigators viewed that information as suggesting the homicide had been planned.
Unverified Allegations
The incarcerated informant reportedly alleged that bleach was poured down the victim's throat before his throat was cut. The claims remain allegations attributed to the informant; they have not been independently verified beyond the court documents cited above.
Pine Bluff Homicide Snapshot
Pine Bluff Police Department statistics presented in June 2025 recorded one homicide in the city that month, down 66 percent from June 2024, and four homicides year-to-date through June; the department said arrests had been made in all four cases. These city figures are an earlier snapshot, not a measure of this case or a longer-term trend. See the Pine Bluff Police Department report.
Smith is being held at the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree murder. He is scheduled to return to court December 28 at 9 a.m. The identity of the woman who fled, along with the identity of the victim himself, remained unresolved as of the latest reporting.
