ALMA, Ark. – Officials with the Alma Police Department on Monday said they are ready to make an announcement on “significant developments” in the kidnapping of Morgan Nick.
APD Chief Jeff Pointer said his department would hold a media briefing Tuesday to share the update to the 1995 case.
Though no information on the announcement has been given, Pointer said that the briefing will happen at the Alma Police Department Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Morgan Nick: A Case That Still Haunts Arkansas
On the evening of June 9, 1995, six-year-old Morgan Nick disappeared from a small town in Arkansas, leaving behind a legacy of pain, hope, and determination. Her abduction, which took place at a Little League game in Alma, Arkansas, is a story that has touched the hearts of thousands, not only because of the heartbreak it brought to her family but because it shed light on the pervasive issue of missing children in America.
In the years since her disappearance, Morgan’s case has become one of the most well-known child abduction stories in the state, leading to widespread advocacy efforts, the establishment of organizations aimed at helping missing children, and an ongoing search for answers. To this day, Morgan’s family, law enforcement, and supporters continue to seek justice and closure.
The Night Morgan Disappeared
It was supposed to be a typical summer evening. Morgan Nick attended a Little League baseball game with her mother, Colleen Nick, at the Alma ballpark. The night was filled with the joy and laughter of children, and Morgan, an energetic and adventurous child, wanted to catch fireflies with some friends. Her mother hesitated but allowed Morgan to play just a short distance away.
At around 10:30 p.m., just as the game was wrapping up, Morgan’s friends returned, but Morgan was nowhere to be found. In a matter of minutes, the carefree night turned into every parent’s nightmare. Despite immediate searches by law enforcement and volunteers, Morgan had vanished without a trace.
Witnesses reported seeing a strange man in a red pickup truck around the area, which later became the focus of the investigation. The man was described as white, approximately 6 feet tall, with a medium build, but despite this and several leads that followed, Morgan’s abductor was never identified.
The Investigation and Initial Search Efforts
From the moment Morgan was reported missing, the Alma Police Department, the FBI, and volunteers from across the state launched an intensive search for the girl. Law enforcement combed the surrounding areas, and hundreds of tips poured in from across the country. But the investigation was met with challenges—despite witness statements and descriptions, the suspect remained elusive, and there was no solid physical evidence linking anyone to Morgan’s abduction.
The case stayed in the headlines for months, as residents of Alma and beyond held out hope for Morgan’s safe return. But as time passed and leads began to dry up, hope turned into despair. Colleen Nick, however, refused to give up. She worked tirelessly to keep her daughter’s case in the public eye, collaborating with law enforcement and child advocacy organizations in the hopes of finding any information that could bring her daughter home.
The FBI’s 2021 Investigation and New Leads
In November 2021, the FBI took a significant step in Morgan Nick’s case, publicly requesting information about a man named Billy Jack Lincks, a deceased pedophile who had become a major person of interest. Lincks died in 2000 while serving a prison sentence for sexual indecency with a child.
The FBI revealed that two months after Morgan’s disappearance in 1995, Lincks had attempted to abduct a young girl in Van Buren, Arkansas, just eight miles from the ballpark where Morgan was last seen. This new information suggested a possible connection between Lincks and Morgan’s abduction. Arkansas court records also showed that Lincks had been convicted of sexually abusing a young girl in 1992 and was on probation at the time of Morgan’s disappearance.
“Today, law enforcement may be closer than ever to identifying this person,” the FBI stated in its plea for information, noting that Lincks was a World War II Army veteran and had worked for Braniff Airlines in Dallas before returning to his native Van Buren in the late 1970s.
It was the first time a person of interest had been publicly named in Morgan’s case, though her mother, Colleen Nick, told Fox 24 in Fayetteville that Lincks had been on investigators’ radar for about three years. “This lead is something which has been on the table for a really long time,” she said.
At the time of Morgan’s abduction, witnesses reported seeing a red Ford pickup truck with a white camper shell leaving the ballpark around the time she disappeared. The camper’s windows were covered with curtains, and the truck had a dull paint job with a short wheelbase. According to the Charley Project, a website that tracks missing persons cases, the camper appeared to be four or five inches shorter than the truck and was possibly damaged on its right rear end.
Court records revealed that Lincks drove a red 1986 Chevy pickup truck during the time Morgan went missing, adding further weight to the theory that he could have been involved in her abduction.
The Crime That Put Lincks in Prison
The crime that led to Lincks’ imprisonment was an attempted kidnapping in Van Buren on August 29, 1995, just two months after Morgan vanished. An 11-year-old girl had gone to a Sonic restaurant with her brothers and a friend when Lincks approached her in his truck and began talking about sexual matters. He offered her money to get into his truck and go home with him.
Terrified, the girl ran away screaming, and Lincks fled the scene, crashing into a pole as he sped off. A witness managed to get the truck’s license plate, which helped authorities track Lincks to his home, where they found his damaged truck. Crime lab reports obtained later showed that blood and hair were found in the truck, though the evidence was not tested at the time. It remains unclear whether more recent testing has been done.
The FBI has not revealed if the evidence found in Lincks’ truck has been connected to Morgan’s case, but FBI Public Affairs Officer Connor Hagan indicated that Lincks remains a major person of interest, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The Legacy of Morgan Nick: The Morgan Nick Foundation
In 1996, just a year after her daughter’s disappearance, Colleen Nick founded the Morgan Nick Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing child abductions and supporting families of missing children. The foundation provides resources, education, and tools for families, helping to prevent further tragedies like Morgan’s. One of its key missions is to educate parents and children about safety measures and to assist law enforcement in cases of missing and exploited children.
Continuing the Search for Morgan Nick
Nearly three decades later, the search for Morgan Nick continues. The case remains open, and while there have been occasional developments over the years, none have led to a resolution. The FBI and the Arkansas State Police continue to investigate, and the Morgan Nick Foundation works tirelessly to keep Morgan’s case in the public eye.
A Mother’s Unyielding Hope
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Morgan Nick’s story is the unwavering determination of her mother, Colleen. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, Colleen has become a symbol of strength, transforming her grief into a mission to help others. Through the Morgan Nick Foundation, she has touched the lives of many families, offering comfort, guidance, and hope to those facing similar struggles.
Morgan Nick’s disappearance remains one of Arkansas’ most heartbreaking unsolved mysteries. As law enforcement continues to work tirelessly on the case, and as the public remains vigilant, there is still hope that Morgan will be found and that her family will finally have the closure they so desperately seek.
Anyone with information about Billy Jack Lincks or Morgan Nick’s abduction is encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips at fbi.gov/tip.
