Bruce Cockrell sentenced to 75 years in prison for killing his wife by fire

HOPE – Represented by Jeff Harrelson and Anthony Biddle, the Defendant, Bruce
Cockrell entered a negotiated plea of guilty this week to the charges of murder in the first degree and arson of property having a value of at least two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), but less than five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Prior to sentencing, Nichole Smith, the sister of the victim, Tonya Marie Liggin, fought back tears as she spoke to the man who took her baby sister’s life
and the Court. After going into vivid detail of the pain she and her family endured, Nichole unexpectedly and graciously forgave the Defendant in open court. She explained that she could no longer carry the hate she had for the Defendant since Tonya’s death.

After Nichole’s statement, the Honorable Circuit Judge Duncan Culpepper sentenced the Defendant to serve forty-five (45) years in prison for murder in the first degree and then to serve thirty (30) years consecutively for the arson for a total prison sentence of seventy-five (75) years as negotiated between the State and the Defendant. The Defendant is forty-eight (48) years old.

The case was opened when Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kyle Malone and Sergeant Derrick Bunn responded to a structure fire in Fulton on July 8, 2024. Tonya was transported to Christus St. Michael’s in Texarkana, Texas, due to burns all over her body. There, she told medical personnel that the Defendant had poured weed eater gas on her before setting her on fire. Tonya later passed away at the Burn Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. The case was investigated by Captain Justin Crane of the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Department.

On behalf of the family of Tonya Marie Liggin, Nichole Smith said, “we are grateful for the outcome of this case and believe that justice has been served for our beloved Tonya. Our family extends our deepest appreciation to Ben Hale and the entire Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their unwavering dedication, professionalism, and compassion throughout this process. While no verdict can bring Tonya back, we find comfort knowing that her voice was heard and that
accountability has been achieved. We will continue to honor Tonya’s memory and focus on healing together as a family.”