Arrest Made in 1991 Cold-Case Murder: Convicted Killer's Chilling Confession


A convicted murderer serving a life sentence in Arkansas for a brutal crime has allegedly confessed to another heinous act from 1991. 

Rick Allen Headley, aged 48, previously convicted for murdering his estranged wife, now faces first-degree murder charges in connection with the cold-case killing of Sabrina Lynn Underwood, who was just 19 years old at the time.

In a recent development, Headley allegedly admitted to the police that he had decapitated a hitchhiker with a "Rambo-style" knife in 1991. He claimed that this gruesome act occurred after they had a sexual encounter and she attempted to extort money from him.

Sabrina's family has been haunted by her absence, but this arrest provides a glimmer of hope and some much-needed answers. Col. Mike Hagar expressed a commitment to pursuing justice for families like the Underwoods.

Details of this disturbing case and Headley's confession are outlined in an affidavit obtained by Law&Crime.

On January 20, 1991, Sabrina's mother dropped her off near Bear Creek, Boone County, at the intersection of U.S. Highway 412 and 62, where she was hitchhiking to Calico Rock to visit an inmate at an Arkansas prison. Tragically, she disappeared that day, and her mother never saw her again.

Months later, in April 1991, a hunter discovered human bones, hair, a pair of panties, and an earring stud near the Gum Springs Cemetery northeast of Little Rock, which were confirmed to be Sabrina's remains. Law enforcement conducted investigations, interviews, and pursued leads, but the case eventually went cold.

However, in July 2022, a tip from a local attorney with a client who had information on a possible suspect breathed new life into the investigation. This client happened to be incarcerated with Headley at the Arkansas state prison and revealed that Headley had given him a confession letter outlining the gruesome murder.

Armed with this confession letter, detectives interviewed Headley, who confirmed his involvement in the crime. According to his statement, Sabrina approached him at a gas station, seeking a ride, which he agreed to provide. She couldn't pay for gas, and when she made sexual advances in the truck, she offered an alternative to compensate him, as she lacked the money for gas.

After a sexual encounter, Sabrina allegedly threatened to expose him unless he gave her a couple of hundred dollars. This threat left Headley feeling trapped, and he decided to resort to extreme measures. He attacked Sabrina outside the truck, dragged her into a remote wooded area, and ended her life.

Headley expressed that he had hoped no one would ever be arrested for the crime because he believed himself to be the sole perpetrator.

Headley is scheduled to appear in Fulton County Circuit Court on November 13.

Comments