The Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the life imprisonment sentence of Lazarus Reaves on Wednesday, rejecting his appeal in the capital murder of his girlfriend Shaletian "Shay" Larry in December 2020. Associate Justice Courtney Rae Hudson delivered the opinion in *Lazarus Reaves v. State of Arkansas* (2025 Ark. 202), upholding the Washington County Circuit Court conviction.
A Washington County Circuit Court jury found Reaves guilty of capital murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with Larry's shooting death on Dec. 26, 2020. The court sentenced Reaves to life imprisonment without parole for the murder charge and a concurrent six-year term for tampering with evidence. The State had waived the death penalty in the case.
Reaves appealed his conviction, arguing that the circuit court erred by denying his motion for directed verdict on the capital-murder charge. A directed verdict motion asks the court to rule that the prosecution has failed to present sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court rejected this argument, finding the evidence sufficient to support the conviction.
According to trial evidence presented to the jury, Reaves and Larry had moved to Fayetteville from Georgia in late October 2020. The couple lived in a two-bedroom apartment at Lakeside Village Apartments with Reaves's cousin, Dawand Wallace. Larry owned a black BMW sedan with Georgia license plates.
The relationship between Reaves and Larry showed signs of domestic abuse prior to the murder. On Dec. 4, 2020, the Fayetteville Police Department responded to a disturbance call at their apartment. An officer testified that Larry was crying when she answered the door that evening but would not disclose the reason for her distress. Reaves was present during the police visit and answered many of the officer's questions for Larry. The officers left without making an arrest.
Text message evidence revealed the abusive nature of their relationship. In one exchange, Larry texted Reaves about his having previously hit her with a gun, which he did not deny. The messages showed escalating tension leading up to the murder.
On Dec. 19, 2020, just one week before Larry's death, Reaves sent a series of angry text messages to his girlfriend. In one particularly threatening message, Reaves wrote: "I'll shoot you in front of the police IDGAF right now." The evidence indicated that Reaves was angry at Larry in the period leading up to her murder.
The Supreme Court's decision provides closure to a case that began with Larry's death on Dec. 26, 2020. The timing of the murder, occurring during the holiday season, added to the tragedy for Larry's family and friends.
The conviction for tampering with physical evidence suggests that Reaves attempted to conceal or destroy evidence related to the crime after Larry's death. This additional charge often indicates efforts to interfere with the investigation or prosecution of the underlying offense.
Reaves was represented by counsel during his appeal, though the Supreme Court ultimately found no merit in his challenge to the sufficiency of evidence. The directed verdict motion that formed the basis of his appeal is a common defense strategy in criminal cases, particularly in capital murder prosecutions where the stakes are highest.
The Washington County Circuit Court case was presided over by the Honorable Joanna Taylor, who handled the original trial proceedings. The case number CR-25-73 in the Supreme Court reflected the appellate proceedings that concluded with Wednesday's affirmation.
The Supreme Court's opinion was delivered on Dec. 11, 2025, nearly five years after Larry's death. The lengthy appellate process is typical in capital murder cases, where defendants have the right to appeal their convictions to the state's highest court.
With the Supreme Court's affirmation, Reaves will serve his life sentence without the possibility of parole. The concurrent six-year sentence for tampering with physical evidence will run alongside the life term, meaning it will not extend his time in prison beyond the murder conviction.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence and intimate partner homicide. The evidence of prior abuse, including the December 4 police call and threatening text messages, follows patterns often seen in domestic violence cases that escalate to murder.
Reaves could potentially seek further review through federal courts, though such appeals face significant procedural hurdles and are rarely successful. The Arkansas Supreme Court's unanimous decision strengthens the likelihood that the conviction will stand.
The affirmation brings legal closure to a case that devastated Larry's family and the Fayetteville community. Larry's death represents one of numerous domestic violence homicides that occur annually across Arkansas and the United States.