Woman arrested for forging new will after someone died

WALNUT RIDGE, AR (KAIT) - A Walnut Ridge woman was arrested Thursday for forging a will after someone else had died.

On April 28, a victim told police that one of their relatives had died and she had found out that a new will had been entered into court two days after the death.

The information in the new will differed greatly to the known will.

Once the victim got a copy of the will, she said it was obvious that it was forged by Kimberly Dement Dotson.

In the new will, it stated that all of the decedent's property was left to Dotson and also said there were "no living relatives."

The victim also had a certified forensic document examiner look at the will. That examiner swore on an affidavit that the decedent "did not write or sign" the new will.

According to the affidavit from the Craighead County District Court, Dotson made several purchases using the decedent's debit card and withdrew money from his bank account, totaling $3,512.73 for personal use.

This was while he was bed-ridden, in the hospital and after his death.

Dotson was arrested and charged with forgery.

According to the Craighead County Sheriff's Department website, she was released from custody Friday.

Correction: In an earlier version of this story we incorrectly stated the amount of money withdrawn. We regret the mistake.