Dear Mr. and Mrs. Ellis,

I have read your emails dated April 12, 2018, regarding the death of Joan Ellis. It is my understanding that Joan Ellis died in Little Rock, Arkansas, and based on the location of the death, any investigation into this death would be the responsibility of the Little Rock Police Department, and not the Arkansas State Police. It’s also my understanding that although a private autopsy has been completed, a determination of the cause and manner of death has not been completed by the Medical Examiner’s Section of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine an official cause and manner of death for Joan Ellis.

In order for the Arkansas State Police to become involved in an investigation regarding the death of your mother, we would need a request from the Little Rock Police Department requesting our assistance, or a request from the Sixth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requesting we conduct an investigation into the death. As of this date, we have not received a request from the Little Rock Police Department or the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office regarding the death of Joan Ellis.

Respectfully,

Major Mark Hollingsworth

Arkansas State Police

Criminal Investigation Division

501.618.8850 (office)

501.618.8859 (fax)