BONANZA, AR — A tragic case that began as a welfare check in December has been ruled a double murder-suicide. Arkansas authorities confirmed Wednesday that 40-year-old Charity Beallis shot and killed her two 6-year-old children before turning the gun on herself inside their Bonanza home, just one day after a contentious final divorce hearing.
Following a months-long investigation and autopsies conducted by the Arkansas State Crime Lab, the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office announced that the deaths of the two children were homicides and Beallis’s death was a suicide. The findings provide a grim conclusion to a domestic case marked by allegations of violence and a desperate struggle for custody.
A Timeline of the Tragedy
The bodies were discovered on the morning of Dec. 3, 2025, when deputies arrived at the residence to conduct a welfare check. All three victims had sustained fatal gunshot wounds.
While the children were not publicly identified by name, court records indicate they were twins born in 2019. The discovery came less than 24 hours after Beallis appeared in court for a final hearing regarding her divorce from Dr. Randall Beallis, 57.
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Failed Reconciliation and Custody Rulings
Investigative leads suggests a motive rooted in the dissolution of the marriage. According to the Sheriff’s Office, transcripts from the Dec. 2 deposition and hearing revealed that Beallis strongly desired a reconciliation with her estranged husband—an outcome that did not materialize.
After cycling through four different attorneys, Beallis represented herself during the contested proceedings. The court ultimately ordered a joint custody arrangement, a significant shift from the full custody Beallis had sought since filing for divorce in March 2025.
Evidence recovered from the home’s security system proved pivotal to the investigation:
- System Deactivation: At approximately 10:00 p.m. on the night of the hearing, Beallis used her phone—to which she had exclusive access—to deactivate the home security system.
- No Breach: Data from the alarm company confirmed that no doors or windows were opened after the system was shut down.
- Husband’s Location: Digital forensics cleared Dr. Randall Beallis of involvement. His Tesla was not near the residence, and his mobile devices did not ping any local cell towers during the window of the crime.
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A History of Domestic Turmoil
The tragic end follows a year of legal and personal volatility. Beallis originally filed for divorce following an incident in February 2025, where she alleged Dr. Beallis choked and physically harmed her.
Dr. Beallis was initially charged with aggravated assault on a family member and third-degree domestic battery. In October 2025, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of third-degree battery, receiving a one-year suspended sentence. Despite a “no-contact” order being in place for much of the year, the court’s final ruling on Dec. 2 would have re-integrated him into the children’s lives through joint custody.
Community Impact and Resources
The Bonanza community remains shaken by the loss of two young lives in a case that highlights the intersection of domestic litigation and mental health crises.
Local advocacy groups emphasize that help is available for those experiencing domestic distress or thoughts of self-harm. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
