Rikki Cobb/ Ben Hale 

Prosecuting Attorney 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Date: November 13, 2025 

Hope, Arkansas—Represented by Jeff Harrelson and Anthony Biddle, the defendant, Bruce Cockrell, entered a negotiated plea of guilty to the charges of murder in the first degree and arson of property having a value of at least $2,500, but less than $5,000.

Prior to sentencing, Nichole Smith, the sister of the victim, Tonya Marie Liggin, fought back tears as she spoke to the man who took her baby sister’s life and to the court. After going into vivid detail about the pain she and her family endured, Nichole unexpectedly and graciously forgave the defendant in open court. She explained that she could no longer carry the hate she had for the defendant since Tonya’s death. 

After Nichole’s statement, the Honorable Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper sentenced the defendant to serve 45 years in prison for murder in the first degree and then to serve 30 years consecutively for the arson for a total prison sentence of 75 years  as negotiated between the state and the defendant. The defendant is 48 years old. 

The case was opened when Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kyle Malone and  Sergeant Derrick Bunn responded to a structure fire in Fulton on July 8, 2024. Liggin was transported to Christus St. Michael’s in Texarkana, Texas, due to burns all over her body. There, she told medical personnel that the defendant had poured weed eater gas on her before setting her on fire. Liggin later passed away at the Burn Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. 

The case was investigated by Captain Justin Crane of the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Department. 

On behalf of the family of Tonya Marie Liggin, Nichole Smith said, “we are grateful for the outcome of this case and believe that justice has been served for our beloved Tonya. Our family  extends our deepest appreciation to Ben Hale and the entire Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and compassion throughout this process. While no verdict can bring Tonya back, we find comfort knowing that her voice was heard and that  accountability has been achieved. We will continue to honor Tonya’s memory and focus on  healing together as a family.”