LITTLE ROCK, AR – Kristy Loree Gordon, 43, of Quitman, Arkansas, walked away with a slap on the wrist today, sentenced to four years’ probation for a callous act of desecration. Gordon illegally excavated and removed human skeletal remains from a known Native American archeological site within the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr., following a guilty plea entered on March 13, 2025.
The case, prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary, stems from an incident on November 19, 2020, when the Stone County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about potential human remains discovered near Pogue Springs. Gordon initially claimed she and another hiker stumbled upon the bones while digging with a stick, reporting the find to authorities. But the story quickly unraveled.
Investigators discovered a scene of extensive digging, far beyond a casual discovery. A U.S. Forest Service archeologist confirmed the area was a protected Native American site, and no excavation permits had been issued. Recovered from the scene were not only human skeletal remains – including a partial skull – but also tools and fragments. Gordon later admitted, in a second statement, that she deliberately sought out the site hoping to unearth Native American artifacts. She dug as deep as 1.5 feet, found the bones, and took them home.
The depravity didn’t stop there. Gordon confessed to cleaning the bones, realizing she’d unearthed a human skull. She then returned to the site, haphazardly reburied the remains, and “prayed over them” – a pathetic attempt at atonement after blatant disrespect. A search of her residence revealed a vast collection of stolen artifacts, including an archaic knife identified as a funerary object, deliberately placed with the remains as part of a death rite. A skull fragment was even found outside her home, where she’d apparently washed the stolen bones.
Adding insult to injury, a Facebook search warrant revealed Gordon had the audacity to share photographs of the human remains – including the partial skull – with others on the same day she contacted law enforcement. This wasn’t about accidental discovery; it was a calculated act of looting and disrespect, violating the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990. Gordon has agreed to pay $16,135.32 in restitution to cover the cost of restoring the damaged site.
The U.S. Forest Service, with assistance from the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, conducted the investigation. While Gordon avoids prison time, her actions have irrevocably disturbed a sacred site and demonstrated a profound disregard for Native American heritage. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
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Key Facts
- State: Arkansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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