Arkansas Mother and Two Young Children Found Shot to Death A Day After Final Divorce Hearing

Charity Beallis, 40, and her two young children were found fatally shot in their Bonanza, Arkansas, home on the morning of Dec. 3, authorities said — one day after she and her husband attended a final divorce hearing.

What Law Enforcement Says

Sebastian County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check at about 9:30 a.m. at a residence on the 1100 block of 1st Avenue in Bonanza, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Initial attempts to reach anyone at the door were unsuccessful, but two workers at the property later allowed deputies inside, where they discovered the three victims.

The victims were identified as 40-year-old Charity Beallis and two children born in 2019, who have not been publicly named. All three suffered gunshot wounds. The sheriff’s office said autopsies will be performed to determine official causes of death, and that search warrants have been executed with more anticipated as the investigation continues. Interviews are under way and no arrests have been announced.

Case Background

Court records reviewed by PEOPLE show Charity Beallis filed for divorce from her husband, Dr. Randall Beallis, 56, on March 5, 2025. In that petition she sought sole custody of the two children and requested protective orders for herself and the children after Randall was arrested on domestic violence-related charges earlier in 2025.

Online jail and court records indicate Randall initially faced charges including aggravated assault on a family member, third-degree domestic battery and counts of endangering the welfare of a minor. Local reports allege an incident on Feb. 16, 2025, in which he choked and harmed Charity. In October, Randall pleaded guilty to third-degree battery, received a one-year suspended sentence, was ordered to pay $1,500 in fines, and was placed under a no-contact order prohibiting contact with his estranged wife and her family except by court authorization.

The couple were married in 2015 and stopped living together in February 2025, according to court documents. They attended a final divorce hearing at the Sebastian County Courthouse in Fort Smith on Dec. 2, the day before the deaths were discovered. On Dec. 4, Randall’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss the divorce case, citing the plaintiff’s death.

Family Comments and Community Reaction

In public comments on social media earlier this year, Charity described herself as a victim who felt ignored by the system and urged greater transparency and accountability. John Powell, identified as Charity’s oldest son, told KNWA FOX24 that his mother had fought for months to protect herself and the children and said, "My mother fought for nine months ... to save her life and them babies, and nothing happened." Prosecutor Daniel Shue and Randall Beallis’s attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Investigation Status: Authorities say information is still being gathered. No suspects have been publicly identified and no arrests have been made. Autopsies and further forensic work are pending.