TIMELINE: SAU horse theft investigation

Timeline created by CRoyKSLA

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Event Date:	Event Title:	Event Description:
11/02/2011	Five horses stolen from SAU stables	Search on for stolen horses SAU investigators say five horses, a trailer and other riding equipment were taken sometime between 10:30 p.m. Wednesday and 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 3rd, 2011. The horses are owned by SAU students who are members of the university's nationally competitive rodeo team. The horses are team and calf roping horses.
11/03/2011	Stolen trailer found in Tom, OK	Search continues for stolen horses A livestock trailer, believed to have been stolen along with the horses and other equipment is found in Tom, Oklahoma. The stolen horses include a 16-year-old black American Quarter horse, a 7-year-old gray American Quarter horse, a 14-year-old buckskin Quarter horse, 15-year-old chestnut Quarter horse and a 12-year-old black Quarter horse.
11/04/2011	Search continues	Search continues for stolen SAU horses The search continues for five horses believed to have been stolen from Southern Arkansas University on November 2nd. SAU Rodeo releases pictures of the horses and their riders. "We are doing everything we can to locate these valuable and loved horses," said Dr. David Rankin, SAU President.
11/09/2011	More stolen items recovered	More stolen items are recovered, horses remain missing Saddles, blankets and other tack are recovered. Grey, Badger, Lena, Credit Card, and Black Mare remain missing.
11/15/2011	Four horses recovered	UPDATE: Four horses recovered, search continues for one SAU Police Chief Eric Plummer says he was notified at approximately 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15th by McCurtain County, OK Sheriff Johnny Tadlock that SAU Rodeo Coach Rusty Hayes had located the four horses in a wooded area near Tom, Oklahoma. No one was with the horses when they were found.
11/25/2011	Remains of 5th horse found	Credit Card's remains found Just more than three weeks after the horses were stolen, the mutilated remains of the final missing horse were recovered in Oklahoma. The remains of "Credit Card," a 15-year-old sorrel gelding, were found with the help of an SAU student and the school's rodeo coach
11/30/2011	Memorial held for Credit Card	Memorial held for Credit Card A ceremony was held on the Smith family property in Emmet, AR for Credit Card. "I just ask them why because there is not really anything that could have added up to what they did but I just don't know why they did it," said West, who also partnered with Credit Card in rodeo competitions.
12/02/2011	Arrest warrant signed	An arrest affidavitis signed by a Columbia County judge, detailing the evidence SAU investigators have gathered showing what they believe to be probable cause for Jaci Rae Jackson's arrest on six counts of theft of property.
12/05/2011	Two more arrested in horse thefts	Hours after Jacie Rae Jackson was arrested, McCurtain Co.,OK deputies arrest Mickey Carter and Charles Tremmel. Each are charged with possession of stolen things. They are not facing charges related to the actual theft of the horses.
12/05/2011	Jaci Rae Jackson arrested	Jackson is arrested, one day before her 19th birthday, and charged in Columbia County, AR with six felony counts of theft of property. The affidavit for her arrest indicates it was all planned out in advance, and points to a romance turned sour with one of the horse's owners as a possible motive for wanting the horse killed.
12/05/2011	Reward fund created	A reward fund created initially to help find the SAU horse thieves has since evolved into a fund to replace Credit Card, and then ultimately into a scholarship fund for SAU Rodeo students.
12/07/2011	Jackson's 1st court appearance	The former SAU student was shackled and cuffed as she was escorted into the Columbia County, AR courtroom for her first hearing, which was packed with members of the rodeo community and under extra security. "All I can say is I maintain that my client is not guilty of what she's been accused of and we intend to show that," said attorney, Mike Lusk.
12/13/2011	Jackson waives extradition	Jaci Rae Jackson, now 19, waives extradition to McCurtain Co., OK. Jackson had paid the $100,000 bond on the charges against her in Columbia Co., AR, but a hold remained for her in McCurtain County, where she faces three additional charges, including animal cruelty. The bond for the charges in McCurtain County was set at $50,000.
12/15/2011	Jackson posts bail in OK	Jackson posts a $50,000 bond in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, where she faces charges of transporting stolen property into the state, concealing stolen property and cruelty to animals. Jackson also faces six felony counts of stolen property in Arkansas.
12/16/2011	JRJ & mother charged with arson	One day after Jaci Jackson bonded out of jail on felony theft and animal cruelty charges in connection with the theft of five horses from Southern Arkansas University rodeo students, her mother lands behind bars and both are charged with arson in an unrelated case that investigators say was uncovered in the course of the horse theft investigation.
01/13/2012	SAU Police name 'person of interest'	Authorities announce they are seeking 'person of interest' in connection with the case. William Hamilton, also known as Billy Mitchell, is named in witness statements as the one who allegedly killed "Credit Card" and helped steal the trailer that was taken with the horse.
01/19/2012	"No deal" for JRJ	McCurtain Co. DA: No deal for Jaci Rae Jackson On the date of what was supposed to be a preliminary hearing for Jackson, County District Attorney Mark Matloff says he spoke with Jackson's attorney, and let them know they were not going to offer a plea agreement. Matloff says he's going to let a jury decide what to do with Jackson.
01/20/2012	"Credit Card" saga plays out on CMT	Shaun was out of town, shooting a reality dating show on CMT called Sweet Home Alabama, when his horse was stolen. He returned home briefly, but was back in Alabama when he got the heartbreaking news. The drama plays out in this episode.
03/13/2012	Preliminary hearing	A preliminary hearing has been set for this date in McCurtain County Court, and will deal with both the theft and cruelty charges, as well as the arson charges Jackson and her mother are facing in a separate case. In a preliminary hearing, the court decides whether there is enough probable cause to take a case to trial.