‘Dateline NBC’: Where is Rebecca O’Donnell now? Sinister friend stabbed ex-senator Linda Collins to death
POCAHONTAS, ARKANSAS: Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence for the murder of her friend, former Arkansas State Senator, Linda Collins.
O'Donnell was arrested in June 2019 after evidence, including security footage and the sale of stolen coins, linked her to the crime. She later confessed to killing Collins during her trial in August 2020.
The case of Linda Collins is a chilling tale of betrayal and murder. In June 2019, Collins's body was discovered outside her home in Pocahontas, Arkansas, wrapped in a tarp and showing signs of a violent death. Initially, suspicion fell on her ex-husband due to their messed up divorce. However, shocking evidence soon pointed to her close friend and former campaign aide, Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell. What follows left many wondering how such a close friendship could end in such tragedy. This story will be closely witnessed again on NBC's new 'Dateline NBC' episode, titled 'The Hands of a Killer'.
Who is Rebecca O’Donnell?
Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell was a close friend and former campaign aide of Linda Collins, a former Arkansas State Senator. O'Donnell and Collins met through a common friend and developed a strong friendship over the years. O'Donnell also worked on Collins's reelection campaign, which Collins ultimately lost.
Despite their close relationship, O'Donnell harbored a dark secret. She was involved in stealing gold and silver coins worth $15,000 from Collins, which were part of a property settlement with Collins' ex-husband. When Collins confronted O'Donnell about the theft, O'Donnell reacted violently, leading to Collins's brutal murder.
How did the police find out that Rebecca O'Donnell was the murderer?
The police caught Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell as the killer of Linda Collins through a combination of security camera footage and evidence of theft. On June 4, 2019, Linda Collins's son and father found her body wrapped in a tarp outside her home in Pocahontas, Arkansas. Soon, police began their investigation and found that Collins had been stabbed to death. Inside Collins's house, investigators discovered that the security cameras had been tampered with, and the footage was missing. However, they were able to recover the footage from a backup source.
This recovered security camera footage showed Rebecca O'Donnell, Collins's close friend and former campaign aide, inside Collins's kitchen holding a bloody knife. This footage directly implicated O'Donnell in the crime. Furthermore, investigators also uncovered that O'Donnell had stolen $15,000 worth of gold and silver coins from Collins. These coins were part of a property settlement between Collins and her ex-husband, but Collins had reported them missing. It was discovered that O'Donnell had sold these coins in Little Rock and Memphis months before the murder. Police believe that when Collins confronted O'Donnell about the stolen coins, O'Donnell killed her to avoid being exposed. Later on, O'Donnell was arrested while attending Collins's memorial service.
Why was Rebecca O’Donnell plotting Linda Collins’s ex Phil Smith’s murder?
Rebecca O'Donnell's plot to murder Linda Collins' ex-husband, Phil Smith, stemmed from her desire to frame him for Linda's murder and possibly to eliminate any threat he posed to her. After Linda Collins's body was found and O'Donnell was arrested, she faced serious charges including murder. The evidence against her was strong, with security footage showing her holding a bloody knife and the discovery of stolen gold and silver coins linked to her. Facing the possibility of a long prison sentence, O'Donnell became desperate to find a way out. She knew that if she could divert attention away from herself and onto someone else, it might help her case.
Phil Smith, Linda Collins's ex-husband, was an obvious target. Their divorce had been messes up, involving about $2 million in assets. By plotting his murder, O'Donnell aimed to frame him, making it appear as though he had a motive to kill Linda due to their bitter divorce and financial disputes. While in jail awaiting trial, O'Donnell tried to recruit fellow inmates to help her carry out this plot. She planned to have Phil Smith killed and then stage the scene to make it look like he was responsible for Linda's murder.
However, these actions only added to her legal troubles. This further solidified the case that she was not only guilty of Linda's murder but also willing to go to extreme lengths to escape punishment. Ultimately, O'Donnell's attempts to frame Phil Smith backfired, leading to a stronger case against her and resulting in her eventual confession.
Rebecca O’Donnell sentenced to 50 years in prison despite pleading innocent
Rebecca O'Donnell was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the murder of her best friend, Linda Collins, despite initially pleading innocent. After her arrest, Rebecca O'Donnell initially pleaded not guilty to the charges of murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence. She maintained her innocence, claiming she was being framed. The police, however, had strong evidence against O'Donnell. Security camera footage showed her in Linda Collins's kitchen holding a bloody knife, and stolen gold and silver coins linked to her were also found. This evidence made it difficult for her to maintain her innocence.
Facing overwhelming evidence and the additional charges, O'Donnell eventually decided to accept a plea deal. She confessed to the murder of Linda Collins, admitting that she intentionally killed her and hid the body. Finally, on August 6, 2020, O'Donnell was sentenced to 50 years in prison as part of the plea deal. During the court proceedings, she straightforwardly admitted to the crime, stating, "I intentionally killed her."
Linda Collins’s daughter Tate Williams said ‘no punishment will fill our void’ after Rebecca Lynn O'Donnell’s sentencing
Linda Collins's family, particularly her children, expressed relief that justice was served. They found some peace in knowing that O'Donnell would be imprisoned for a long time, unable to harm anyone else.
However, her daughter, Tate Williams, was still left heartbroken. "No amount of punishment will ever fill that void that Rebecca O'Donnell made in our lives the day she killed our mother," she said to ABC News. Furthermore, Phil Smith also shared his relief, "my family and I are grateful that justice has been done. My request is to be left in peace and that Linda be allowed to rest in peace.”
'Dateline NBC' airs Fridays at 10 pm ET