Fred Michael Mixon, a 52-year-old Stone County man charged with the 2023 murder of his wife, Leslie Jo Mixon, was found dead at his residence near Mountain View on December 11.
Mixon had been awaiting trial for the first-degree murder charge related to the January 30, 2023, shooting death of his wife. Authorities discovered Leslie Mixon, 57, deceased inside a shop building on the couple’s property off Highway 5 South. According to investigators, she suffered a fatal shotgun wound to the face.
On the day of the incident, Mixon reportedly called Faulkner County Sheriff Tim Ryals, an acquaintance, to surrender. After a brief standoff, he turned himself in to Ryals and local authorities, armed with a loaded .45-caliber handgun. A search warrant executed on the property led to the discovery of Leslie Mixon’s body and the shotgun believed to have been used in the killing.
According to an arrest affidavit, Mixon told authorities he “broke” during a disagreement with his wife, citing ongoing unhappiness in their relationship. An autopsy confirmed her death as a homicide caused by a shotgun wound.
Mixon was initially held on a $1 million bond, later reduced to $500,000, and released in April 2023. His trial had been scheduled for December 18, 2024.
Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long stated that Mixon’s death remains under investigation but noted there is no evidence of foul play. The state medical examiner’s report is pending.
