Judge says no to bond after suspect in Springfield homicide was smiling in court

Harrison Keegan
News-Leader

Greene County Judge Becky Borthwick weighs several factors when considering whether a defendant in a criminal case should be released on bond.

There's the nature and circumstances of the crime, the defendant's home plan and the defendant's demeanor in court.

Elizabeth McKeown flunked the last part of Judge Borthwick's test during a bond hearing on Thursday morning.

McKeown, 46, is facing a first-degree murder charge for allegedly running over 57-year-old Barbara Foster on Nov. 20 in what prosecutors describe as an unprovoked road rage attack.

McKeown has been held without bond since her arrest. At a hearing on Thursday, McKeown's attorney Jon Van Arkel asked Judge Borthwick to set a bond amount so his client could potentially be released before trial.

Elizabeth McKeown

Borthwick said no, in part because she said McKeown was smiling during Thursday's hearing when a Springfield Police Department homicide detective took the stand and described the graphic details of the killing.

"The court is very troubled and very concerned with that," Borthwick said.

Thursday's hearing started with McKeown's husband addressing the judge. He said he felt he could provide a safe home environment for McKeown to stay if released on bond. Then McKeown's mother said she had some property in Van Buren, Arkansas that could be used as collateral to help McKeown post bond.

Prosecutors then called Springfield police detective Matt Farmer to the stand to present evidence why they felt McKeown should not be released.

Farmer described the details of the homicide, which were contained in a probable cause statement used to charge McKeown back in November.

Farmer said McKeown got frustrated sitting in traffic behind Foster on Campbell Avenue near University Street that November afternoon because McKeown was in a rush to make a car payment at the bank.

McKeown hit the back of Foster's car, then ran over Foster when Foster got out to assess the damage, according to Farmer.

Farmer also read some of the seemingly flippant statements McKeown allegedly made after the crash, that she had "tricked" Foster and then "slammed into her."

Farmer said Foster was dragged several feet under McKeown's vehicle and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Farmer said the police department's account of what happened is supported by witness statements and surveillance video from several nearby businesses. No video was played in court on Thursday.

McKeown's back was to the courtroom audience during Farmer's testimony, but Judge Borthwick said the defendant smiled several times.

Before the judge made her decision, Greene County Senior Assistant Prosecutor Emily Shook said releasing McKeown on bond would put the Springfield community in danger.

"There is no telling when she might be set off again," Shook said.

Borthwick denied the defense motion for bond and set another hearing for March 25. Both sides said they were not ready for a preliminary hearing in the case.

Through her private attorney, David Ransin, Foster's mother said she was pleased with the judge's decision.

The News-Leader uncovered that McKeown is a former nurse who was fired from an Arkansas hospital in 2006 for stealing painkillers.

Court documents say McKeown admitted to being on drugs at the time of the November crash, though Springfield police have not confirmed or denied publicly whether she actually was under the influence of any drugs.

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