SHIRLEY, AR – A 31-year-old Van Buren County man has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of his 68-year-old father.
According to the Arkansas State Police, the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance after Russell B. Branscum, 68, was found deceased inside his home at 14114 Highway 110 near Shirley on November 6, 2025.
Special agents with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division identified the victim’s son, Brian J. Branscum, as the suspect. He was located at a hotel in Hot Springs and taken into custody on November 8, 2025.
The victim’s body was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, where the cause and manner of death will be determined. The arrest was the result of a coordinated investigation by ASP CID Companies A, C, and E.
