Season of Justice Grant Supports Investigation Leading to Arrest in Arkansas Child Sexual Assault Case
ZIONSVILLE, Indiana – Season of Justice announced that funding provided through its grant program helped support advanced forensic DNA testing that ultimately led to the identification and arrest of a suspect in a 2023 child sexual assault case investigated by the Paragould Police Department in Paragould, Arkansas.
In 2023, the Paragould Police Department initiated a criminal inquiry following reports of a child’s sexual assault. Detectives moved quickly to secure the scene and recover forensic samples for analysis.
Initially, forensic experts successfully extracted a standard Short Tandem Repeat (STR) DNA profile from the gathered evidence. This genetic data was uploaded to CODIS (the Combined DNA Index System), a national database designed to flag matches between crime scene evidence and registered offenders. When the search returned no hits, the investigation hit a significant roadblock with no immediate suspect in sight.
Rather than letting the case go cold, authorities maintained the integrity of the forensic evidence. They held onto the samples with the understanding that emerging technologies might eventually bridge the gap that traditional database searches could not.
To help progress the 2023 cold case, the Paragould Police Department turned to sophisticated genomic sequencing in 2025. This specialized testing was made possible through a financial grant from Season of Justice, allowing investigators to partner with the forensic laboratory Othram.
The data generated by Othram’s advanced analysis provided the breakthrough detectives needed, narrowing the search to a specific familial line. Subsequent investigative efforts allowed police to zero in on a primary suspect: Steven Bearden.
To confirm the lead, authorities obtained a direct DNA reference sample from Bearden. Laboratory comparison verified that his genetic profile was an exact match to the unidentified male DNA recovered from the original crime scene.
Following this forensic confirmation and the conclusion of the department’s investigation, Steven Bearden was taken into custody and charged for the sexual assault of the child.
Season of Justice provided the funding needed for the advanced forensic testing conducted in this case, helping investigators access the resources necessary to generate new leads when traditional investigative tools were unable to identify a suspect.
“Cases like this highlight the importance of collaboration between investigators, forensic scientists, and organizations committed to supporting justice,” said Angela Mew, Executive Director of Season of Justice. “We are grateful for the dedication of the Paragould Police Department and all of the forensic professionals who worked tirelessly to move this case forward.”
Season of Justice would like to thank the Paragould Police Department, the forensic scientists who conducted the testing, and all investigative partners involved in the case for their commitment and persistence. The organization also recognizes the strength of the victim and the support of their family and loved ones, whose courage underscores the importance of continuing to pursue justice.
Season of Justice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping solve cold and unresolved violent crimes by providing funding for forensic testing and investigative resources that may otherwise be unavailable to law enforcement agencies.
This case serves as a reminder that preserved evidence and continued investigative effort can help bring answers, even years later.