On April 12, 1971, at approximately 9:30 PM, the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville became the scene of a fatal attack on Pauline Storment, a 27-year-old student. The events leading to her death unfolded rapidly, drawing in multiple witnesses who provided statements to investigators.
Pat Murphy, Pauline Storment’s roommate, stated that Pauline did not date anyone she knew of. Murphy also recounted an incident a few nights before the attack where two men, including an unknown white male, came to their apartment, refusing an offer for a drink. Pauline was upset because they had woken her. These men left and walked towards the apartment where Gordon Cummings lived. Two or three nights after this incident, Pauline received a phone call from a man who asked if she remembered the night they “got stoned.” Pauline became upset and hung up, stating she knew no one who would want to harm her.
Around 9:30 PM on the night of the attack, Pauline left the university library, carrying books. Her path took her south along Duncan Avenue.
Mike Adair, driving home on South Duncan Street, observed Pauline Storment at the intersection of Duncan and Center Streets. He saw a man following closely behind her. Adair drove to his apartment and, upon pulling around the building, heard a scream. He ran out to find the victim and heard her say that someone had hit her and had been following her. Adair stated that the subject then ran towards the university. On May 4, 1971, Adair was called to the Fayetteville Police Department to view composite drawings. He stated that the drawing of the subject seen on Duncan Street on the night Pauline Storment was killed “pretty well fit that picture that he has in his mind.” He also noted that he believed the hair in the drawing did not look right, appearing more unkempt and less combed back.
Joe Clifton was driving on Duncan and made a right turn onto Treadwell. He saw Pauline Storment walking about twenty feet ahead of him. He also noticed another couple walking nearby and a man following behind Pauline. Clifton considered stopping to offer her a ride, as her arms were full of books and other items. He thought it was a warm night and that she appeared to be having a good time, but he did not stop. As he pulled into the Summit Terrace parking lot, he heard a yell for help. Initially dismissing it, the yelling became more serious, and she began yelling “help me.” Clifton ran across the parking lot toward the area. By the time he descended the hill, the other man was no longer running beside her. Pauline was lying half in the yard and half in the street, her arms red and soaked with blood. Her white skirt was also soaked. Clifton stated he had just gotten to her and looked up and down the street, but did not see anyone else. When asked if the man following her had hit her, she confirmed. When asked which way he went, she did not answer. Clifton then got her books. On May 4, 1971, at 5:00 PM, Clifton was contacted a second time and asked to view a composite drawing. He believed the drawing of a man with glasses resembled the subject he saw following Pauline Storment. He stated he had no changes to suggest for the drawing. Clifton described the man following Pauline as wearing a brown sport coat, with blonde or sandy-colored hair, approximately 5’10” to 6′ tall, and believed the man wore glasses.
Gary Gammil, residing at Summit Terrace Apartment #10, drove north on Duncan Street to Treadwell Street and turned right into the Summit Terrace parking lot. He heard screams and ran toward the commotion. As he first saw Pauline, she was falling. When he reached her and looked around, he did not see anyone else. Her books and personal belongings were scattered on the grass, north of the light pole. Pauline stated, “He hit me,” and was holding her chest.
Jack Huff, from Summit Terrace Apartment #24, heard a loud scream and the victim yell for help. When he reached the street, three or four people were gathering around Pauline. She was attempting to get up, so Huff assisted her onto the grass. Pauline told him that a person with glasses had hit her in the chest and that she was a junior at the University. She also stated that the man who hit her had been following her.
Cindy Crook and Paula Cook, both residents of Summit Terrace, heard the scream and ran outside, crossing the parking lot to the corner where Pauline was. Miss Crook stated she knew the victim by sight. Both stated they saw no one else in the area.
Linda Langenbruch, residing at 17 South Duncan, was in her back bedroom and heard the words “get out” twice, spoken loudly and clearly by a woman. She described a moment of silence, then heard a car speed away. She noted the voice and car seemed to be to the northwest part of her home. This occurred several minutes before an ambulance arrived, and she thought it was around 10:00 PM.
Linda White, residing at 20 South Duncan, heard a scream about ten minutes before the murder occurred. A few minutes later, she heard the woman call for help. The commotion then quieted, sounding like “someone hit her.” She went outside and saw a group of people already gathered at the corner of Treadwell and Duncan. She did not hear anything before the scream.
Robert L. Spray and John A. Hall, both residing at 12 South Hill, Apt. #3, stated they saw a man park his car close to the address at 12 South Hill. They believed the man appeared to be “very drunk or under the influence of drugs.” They described the subject as having a sport coat, possibly brown, medium height, and a slight build. They did not remember the type of car or the color of the man’s hair. No description of the car was available.
The combination of these witness accounts paints a fragmented but consistent picture of the events: a pursuit, a violent attack, and the aftermath as neighbors converged on the scene. The description of the assailant, specifically the mention of glasses and a brown sport coat, recurs in multiple statements, providing key details for investigators in a case that remains unsolved.
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