Green Bay police call murders a 'heinous crime' after suspect arrested in Arkansas

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WLUK) -- Police are releasing more details after the suspect in a Green Bay double homicide was arrested in Arkansas.

The 48-year-old Green Bay man was initially being sought as a person of interest in the suspicious deaths of two women on Green Bay’s east side Sunday.

Police were called to a duplex in the 1600 block of Elkay Lane for a welfare check around 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

"A friend went to the residence, I believe it was about 11:15 a.m., and noticed what she thought was a suspicious death or someone that was in need of emergency services, backed out, and called 911 and waited for police to arrive," says Green Bay Police Cmdr. Gary Richgels.

Inside, officers found a 58-year-old Green Bay woman and a 53-year-old Bellevue woman deceased. Police are working with the Brown County Medical Examiner's Office and will release the manner of death later.

“As far as I know about the victims, I know that they were friends. They were known to each other; the suspect in this case was known to at least one, if not both," says Richgels.

Richgels called the double murder a "heinous crime" Monday during a news conference.

He revealed that detectives headed south shortly after police arrived on the scene, finding evidence at the duplex that led them to believe the suspect was headed out of state.

"In this case, we sent detectives down immediately yesterday afternoon to get them going that direction. This is a very serious crime, this is a heinous crime and it's our job to give it our all and that’s what we did," says Richgels.

Richgels did not clarify what it was that led police to believe the suspect was leaving Wisconsin, but he said that Arkansas police arrested the man shortly before 3 p.m. Sunday -- within hours of police first arriving on the scene in Green Bay.

The man was arrested without incident during a traffic stop in Arkansas after Green Bay police contacted law enforcement to tell them that a person of interest may be traveling through the state.

The names of the suspect and two victims are being withheld.

Authorities believe this was not a random incident, and the investigation continues. Police are still working the crime scene as of Monday afternoon.

Richgels says double murders are rare for Brown County.

"It is unusual -- I can only think of one or two over my career. Fortunately, Green Bay is not an area where this is an everyday, a weekly, a monthly occurrence," says Richgels.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation can call Green Bay Police at (920) 448-3200 and reference case #23-205264. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-STOP (7867). You may also submit a tip online at 432stop.com, or utilize the "P3 Tips" app for crime tips.