SEARCY (KFSM) — The Searcy Police Department made a second arrest Thursday (Nov. 3) in connection to the disappearance of a two-year-old boy.
Police arrested Lesley Sue Marcotte, 27, of Springdale on suspicion of hindering apprehension or prosecution after Malik Drummond was reported missing in November 2014, according to the department. Marcotte is the boy’s father’s girlfriend, police said. The father, Jeffery Clifton, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of capital murder and abuse of a corpse, according to police.
An affidavit released by police states numerous inconsistencies emerged during the investigation into the account of Malik’s disappearance. During several interviews, Marcotte continued to say she knew nothing about the child’s disappearance except for what she had previously reported, according to the affidavit.
A year to-the-day after Malik’s disappearance, Marcotte told detectives Clifton beat Malik on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 and Malik died shortly after, the affidavit states. It goes on, “Malik’s father kept his body hidden until early Sunday morning. Marcotte said Malik’s father then took the body and disposed of it, but did not tell Marcotte where or how. Marcotte and Malik’s father then staged the events on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014 to report that Malik was missing.”
Marcotte said she and Clifton tried to come up with a way to frame Malik’s biological mother for taking Malik, according to the affidavit. She said Clifton came up with the plan to tell police that Malik walked out the door, the documents state.
The affidavit reads, “Malik’s father said he would take Marcotte down with him if Marcotte told anyone what actually happened.”
Marcotte was booked into the White County Detention Center and released on her own recognizance for medical reasons.
