KTHV reports a second arrest in the death of Malik Drummond, the Searcy two-year-old missing since last November. His father, Jeffery Clifton, was charged Wednesday with murder in the case. Remains believed to be those of the child were found yesterday in rural Jackson County.
The latest arrest is of Leslie Sue Marcotte, 27, of Springdale, described as girlfriend of Clifton. She was charged with hindering apprehension. The prosecutor filed affidavits in the case today that say Marcotte told detectives two weeks ago that the child died after being beaten by Clifton and that she and Clifton had talked of trying to find a way to pin the child’s disappearance on his biological mother.
A year to-the-day after Malik’s disappearance, Marcotte told detectives that Clifton beat Malik on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 and Malik died shortly after.
The affidavit reads, “Malik’s father kept his body hidden until early Sunday morning. Marcotte said Malik’s father then took the body and disposed of it, but did not tell Marcotte where or how. Marcotte and Malik’s father then staged the events on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014 to report that Malik was missing.”