Foster Parent Shot – Arthur Joyce case UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Earle, Arkansas, a 17-year-old male foster teen has been arrested after shooting his foster parent Arthur Joyce three times.

“A man is being treated at The MED after being shot by a foster child in his care, according to the Crittenden County sheriff.

Sheriff Mike Allen reports that a 17-year-old foster child shot his foster dad, Arthur Joyce, three times at a home in Earle, Arkansas, Wednesday morning around 8 a.m.

The sheriff’s office says the teen had only been living at the home for about two months. The teen reportedly ran off following the shooting. He turned himself into Forrest City police Wednesday afternoon. An active search was underway for three hours for the teen.

Investigators say the teen was angry when he did not get paid for the work he did for his foster dad.

Joyce reportedly drove himself to the police department after being shot. From there, he was taken by helicopter to The MED. His condition is not known.

Neighbors say he is a minister. He opened up his home to three other foster children. Most neighbors, like Arthur Brooke, did not think anything when hearing a gunshot.

“We was out there picking peas, and I heard a shot,” said Brooke. “I came out here to see what was going on. They said they’d had a shooting down at the trailer.”

Blood is still on the trailer on Shannonville Road.

“We found out he had been shot three times by one of his foster kids,” said neighbor Sonya Lewis.

Neighbors say they do not understand it because they think Joyce is a wonderful man.

“You couldn’t have asked for any better foster parent,” said neighbor Mary Armstrong. “There’s nothing that man wouldn’t do for anybody. He takes care or those little kids and makes sure they have clothes food and everything you need.””

Sheriff: Foster child shoots foster dad 3 times

[KAIT 8 8/14/13]

Two other foster children were in the home while Arthur was shot.

The biological mother drove him to the police to be turned in.

The teen will be tried as an adult. The teen will be charged with first degree domestic battery. He had only been in the foster home for two months.

Teen In Custody For Shooting Foster Parent

[WREG 8/14/13]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: ‘A Mid-South teen will be charged as an adult for shooting his foster fatherin Earle, Arkansas.

Arthur Joyce, the foster parent, is still at The Med Monday, according to the family.

The teen accused of shooting him made his first court appearance Monday morning in Crittenden County. His biological mother spoke out.

“He’s been in foster care. He hasn’t been on any of his medication,” said the mother, Anita Billups.

Billups says her son, Steven, is bipolar and suffers from ADHD. Investigators say the 17-year-old shot his foster father three times over money he felt he did not get paid for work.

The Crittenden County Sheriff’s department searched for Billups for three hours. Anita said he hid out in an abandoned house in Earle.

“He was texting me on the phone and stuff. He was trying to tell me where he was at in Earle,” she said.

She says he was scared.

Billups says she and her family drove to Earle and picked her son up. They brought him to Forrest City and took him to the Forrest City police department.

Anita Billups said both of her sons were sent to foster care when she became homeless more than a year ago after their house burned.

Relatives called the state saying she was not taking care of her children.

Billups says her son is on his medication now that he is behind bars.

Joyce’s son says his father is doing well here at the MED. He said he is up and walking around and should be released soon.”

Family: Teen who shot foster parent was not on medication

[WMC TV 8/19/13 by Janice Broach]