Tragic Murder-Suicide Follows Joint Custody Ruling in Arkansas Divorce Case
In a devastating case that has shocked the community, an Arkansas mother killed her six-year-old twins before taking her own life after her husband was granted joint custody and refused to stop their divorce proceedings. The tragic incident unfolded in December at the family's $750,000 home in Bonanza, where sheriff's deputies discovered the bodies of Charity Beallis, 40, and her twins, Eliana and Maverick, all with fatal gunshot wounds.
Autopsy Confirms Mother's Responsibility for Children's Deaths
A Wednesday autopsy report confirmed that the children had been killed by their mother shortly after the court awarded her husband, Randy Beallis, 56, joint custody of the twins. "We were not surprised by the findings in the autopsy, as we knew that Mr. Beallis was not responsible for the death of his wife, nor his children," his attorney, Michael Pierce, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. "Mr. Beallis continues to recover from the tragic event that took his children from him."
History of Domestic Violence and Previous Tragedies
The case is complicated by a history of domestic violence allegations. Randy Beallis had previously been convicted on domestic battery charges after admitting last year to strangling Charity in front of their children. This was not the first tragedy in Randy's life; his previous wife also died from a gunshot wound in 2012, though her death was ruled a suicide.
Randy was awarded joint custody on December 2 after a full-day court hearing where Charity represented herself. She had been court-ordered to bring her children to Randy on December 5, but the night of the court hearing, she took their lives and her own.
Final Hours and Investigation Findings
The sheriff's office revealed that Charity wished to reconcile with her husband and that the three were found dead less than 24 hours after he refused and the divorce was finalized. Deputies discovered their bodies the next day after using a key to gain access to the home.
Investigators determined that Charity had "exclusive access" to the home and that no doors or windows had been open after she deactivated the alarm on her phone at 10pm. Randy's Tesla was not in the vicinity of the murder, nor did his phone ping off any cell towers in the area, according to investigators.
Custody Battle and Protective Orders
Court records show Charity had been seeking full custody of the twins and had obtained a protective order against Randy, citing his history of abuse. The details of the custody ruling were not made public, but Charity's attorney told the Daily Mail that she failed in that effort and a judge awarded joint custody at the final hearing on December 2.
In her final text exchange with her older son, John Powell, Charity voiced hope for a future away from Randy, beyond the years of abuse her family claims she was forced to endure. "She was going to move somewhere else, get a good job and let the kids have a good life," Powell previously told the Daily Mail. "Then she wanted to hopefully one day become a good grandmother and just enjoy the things that any normal family would want."
Family's Perspective and Ongoing Fears
Powell claimed that in the months before her death, Charity confided numerous times that she was "terrified" of her husband. "She was always worrying about something happening," he said. "She was fighting so hard to protect her kids."
Court records show Charity obtained a restraining order against Randy in February 2025 after he attacked her at home. She filed for divorce the following month and Randy later pleaded guilty to domestic battery, receiving a suspended sentence.
Both Powell and Charity's father, Randy Powell, have said they do not believe Charity would have been capable of harming her children. "I can't picture my mom shooting with a gun and killing my little brother and sister at six years old," said the younger Powell. "She was terrified, and she was hoping that she could get out of there safe and go on with her life to become the person she always wanted to be."
Mysterious Discovery of Personal Belongings
Three days after they were found dead, a dumpster diver sifting through trash 15 miles away in Fort Smith found a garbage bag filled with Charity's belongings and other intimate family keepsakes, including photos and a gold necklace engraved with the kids' names. It remains unclear how the items came to be discarded.
Investigators with Sebastian County Sheriff's Office called the discovery a "red flag" but declined to elaborate further.
Medical Board Reviews and Professional History
Randy, a family practitioner licensed in Arkansas for nearly two decades, has faced multiple complaints involving his family, which were reviewed by the Arkansas State Medical Board, records first obtained by 5News show.
In January 2018, the board reprimanded Randy for prescribing opioid medication to Charity following a surgery - conduct he later acknowledged was inappropriate. He faced no disciplinary action.
The board reviewed Randy again in February 2021 following a dispute involving Charity's son, John Powell, in which Randy and Charity were accused of slashing the teenager's truck tires with knives during an argument. Randy later pleaded no contest to misdemeanor criminal mischief and received a suspended sentence. The medical board again took no action.
Randy appeared before the board again last year after Charity filed domestic abuse charges, claiming he attacked her in front of their children. In written responses, Randy denied the allegations, saying the incident stemmed from a dispute over her phone and insisting he never choked or strangled her. He later pleaded guilty to third-degree battery and was issued a suspended sentence.
No disciplinary action had been taken against Randy by the time Charity and the children were found dead. State records show his medical license remains active and is due to expire in February 2027.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988.
