PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. — A serene local fishing spot has become the center of a grim mystery after the body of 28-year-old Sara Murphy of Quitman was recovered from Hill Lake. The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office has launched an intensive investigation into her untimely death, sending ripples of anguish and uncertainty through the community.
The discovery was made on the morning of Tuesday, August 26, 2025, prompting a large-scale response from law enforcement and emergency personnel. After days of forensic analysis, the PCSO Criminal Investigations Division officially confirmed the identity of the victim, giving a name to the tragedy and launching a quest for answers that has only just begun.
Authorities are treating the investigation as active and are meticulously working to piece together the final hours of Sara Murphy’s life. The critical questions of how she died and the circumstances that led to her body being in the lake remain unanswered. The official cause and manner of death are pending a complete autopsy and toxicology report, a process that investigators say is crucial to understanding what transpired.
“The investigation is ongoing, and we are pursuing every lead,” a representative from the Sheriff’s Office stated, emphasizing the priority of the case. “Our detectives are dedicated to finding the truth for Sara’s family and our community.”
In a direct appeal for public assistance, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. They are particularly interested in speaking to individuals who may have been in the vicinity of Hill Lake in recent days or who had contact with Sara Murphy prior to August 26th.
The community of Quitman, a small town north of Little Rock, and the wider Pulaski County area are left to mourn the loss of a young woman whose life was cut short. As detectives work under case number P25-008328, the collective hope is that public vigilance will provide the key piece of information needed to unravel this somber mystery.
Anyone with knowledge pertaining to this case is strongly encouraged to contact the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 501-340-6963.
