October 21, 2019 | By Freda Washington-Perez

Bryant Patrick Crocker held a lot of titles. He was a father, a son, a brother. He was a student-athlete in college. He was a leader investing in the local youth.

Now, the communities that once benefitted from his residency can no longer do so. There’s silence, a void where Bryant Crocker once stood.

Bryant Crocker was born in 1969 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was youngest sibling who was lovingly spoiled by their mother and siblings, who’s bigger than life personality always warranted praise.

He shined on the football field during his playing days at Northside High School. Crocker’s abilities helped propel him to play at the next level, accepting a position on the Arkansas Razorbacks football team.

As a young adult, Crocker was negatively influenced by his surroundings, which eventually took his opportunity at a formal education. Although he would change his lifestyle for the better and clean up his past issues, old habits die hard and would lead Crocker to a short incarceration period.

Bryant would serve his time in prison and come out reformed and energized to turn his life around while looking to inspire others. A local car dealership took a chance on Crocker, where he would rise through the ranks and eventually earn the manager position. Bryant had started adulthood at such a low point and rose to find a living in honest work – a tough challenge to overcome.

Crocker’s personal reformation efforts were tragically ended in 2013.

On July 6, 2013, Bryant Crocker was found shot to death in his home.

Crocker had recently purchased fireworks to put on a show for his son and the other neighborhood kids. His stepfather was woken up around 5:00 in the morning to what he thought was fireworks. It wasn’t until later when the scene was discovered.

At the time of the incident, Saline County Police Chief Bobby Hale acknowledge the limits of his small-town department, turning to seek assistance from the Arkansas State Police in investigating the murder.

While there are no suspects named, Crocker’s surviving family believes that he knew his killer, potentially from his fractured personal life and previous issues.

The family now works at raising awareness for their beloved Bryant, in hopes that his case will be solved while ensuring the lasting impact and his accomplishments will not be forgotten.

For his sister Felecia, she prefers to remember her brother as the one who could influence a room upon entry.

“The mood always got brighter every time he entered a room, he could just make people feel better,” Felecia recalled with a smile.

If you have any information on the unsolved murder of Bryant Patrick Crocker, please call the Arkansas State Police at 501-618-8000.

---

Research and Impact

Experts claim that a majority of cold cases are resolved due to a change in relationship. Cases go cold for a reason and one of the best avenues to creating new leads is for those in the community to come forward with information. Whether a person was dating or friends with the potential suspect at the time, found religion, has a heavy conscience, overcame addiction – people change over time and sometimes that’s all it takes for law enforcement to solve a cold case. Those individuals may now be willing to come forward. We hope to reach them.

Each case is different. Some just need the final puzzle piece to make an arrest and take the case to court.

---

Please consider using the buttons below to share this case in hopes that someone, somewhere will come forward and give this victim and family the answers they need and justice they deserve.

If you have a loved one that is the victim of an unsolved homicide, please submit their case here for consideration in a future Cold Case Spotlight post.