Little Rock, ARK – A Logan County teenager will spend the next three decades behind bars after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the 2022 shooting death of his mother.
William Frost, now 18, was sentenced on December 20 in Booneville, Arkansas, after admitting to the crime that occurred on August 7, 2022. At the time of the murder, Frost was just 16 years old. According to court documents, Frost shot and killed his mother in their home, using her .357 caliber handgun. He had waited in his bedroom before carrying out the fatal act.
Frost was initially charged with first-degree murder, to which he had pleaded not guilty. However, after more than two years of delays and continuances, he opted to enter a guilty plea to a second-degree murder charge, avoiding a jury trial. His trial had been set for April 2025, but the guilty plea allowed for the case to be resolved sooner.
In court, Frost was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was also credited with 867 days already served, meaning his sentence will reflect the time he spent in custody prior to his sentencing.
The case drew attention due to the young age of the perpetrator and the nature of the crime, which continues to raise questions about juvenile justice and the consequences faced by minors involved in serious offenses.