To: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the Arkansas Legislature, and Arkansas Department of Corrections

The Problem

On March 28, 2019, Patrick Massey was brutally murdered in Grant County, Arkansas, in an attack that also wounded Jerry Mauldin and involved another victim. Philip Reynolds was charged with Capital Murder with Aggravating Factors (punishable by death or life imprisonment without parole), multiple counts of Criminal Attempt to Commit Capital Murder, Battery in the First Degree, and Aggravated Assault.

Patrick was scalped, had his fingers severed, was tortured and set on fire. Jerry Mauldin was shot. When law enforcement arrived, Reynolds shot at them. The charges detailed this horrific crime involving "sharp force trauma, stabbing, and shooting" Patrick "multiple times" in an "especially cruel or depraved manner."

Despite the extreme brutality of these crimes against multiple victims, Reynolds was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) under Arkansas Act 911 of 1989 - a decision based on a single doctor's opinion.

For six years, Patrick's family has endured court hearings every six months. Five years of competency hearings, followed by ongoing hearings where Reynolds petitions to be moved to a less secure facility that would allow him unsupervised access to the community.

This case exposes critical flaws in Arkansas Act 911 that put communities at risk and traumatize victims' families.

The Failures of Current Law

Single Doctor Decisions: Life-altering NGRI verdicts can be based on one doctor's opinion, despite the profound impact on community safety and victims' families.

Endless Trauma for Families: Victims' families face court hearings every six months indefinitely, forced to relive their loved one's murder to oppose release or transfer to less secure facilities.

Inadequate Community Protection: The current system allows dangerous individuals to be placed in communities with minimal oversight and often no notification to neighbors.

No Consideration of Crime Severity: The same supervision applies regardless of whether someone was acquitted of writing bad checks or committing murder.

What Needs to Change

We demand the Arkansas Legislature immediately reform Act 911 to include:

✅ Multiple Independent Psychiatric Evaluations required before any NGRI verdict

✅ Jury Trials Required for all NGRI determinations - decisions this consequential affecting community safety should not be left to a single judge

✅ State-Funded Therapy and Support for Victims' Families - if the state pays for the perpetrator's treatment, it should also fund therapy for families traumatized by ongoing court proceedings

✅ Limits on Petition Frequency to prevent repeated traumatization of victims' families

✅ Enhanced Community Notification when individuals are placed in residential areas

✅ Mandatory Community Safety Risk Assessments before any placement decisions

✅ Graduated Supervision Based on Crime Severity - violent crimes should require longer, more intensive supervision

✅ Stronger Oversight and Monitoring of individuals on conditional release

Why This Matters

Patrick Massey's case is not isolated. James Earl Lambert II was charged with attempted murder and found NGRI under Act 911. One week prior to his release, he violated the terms of his Act 911 supervision - but was released anyway. Six months later, he killed someone.

Other Arkansas families have faced similar tragedies when individuals under Act 911 supervision committed serious crimes, including murder, while living in communities unaware of the risks. The current system has a documented track record of failure that puts innocent lives at risk.

South Arkansas Reckoning has documented the disturbing details of this case, revealing a pattern of systemic failures that enabled a preventable tragedy.

Our Ask

We call on Governor Sarah Sanders and the Arkansas Legislature to:

Immediately review Arkansas Act 911 of 1989
Hold public hearings on needed reforms
Pass comprehensive legislation addressing the failures outlined above
Prioritize community safety and victims' rights in any reform

Sign This Petition

Patrick's life mattered. His death was preventable. No other family should endure what the Masseys have faced, and no community should be at risk due to an inadequate law.

Your signature demands action. Your voice can help prevent future tragedies.

 
This petition is organized by the Massey family in memory of Patrick Massey and in support of all Arkansas communities deserving protection under the law.

Share this petition. Contact your legislators. Demand reform.