Billy Joe Nelson walked into a Crawford County courtroom this week and admitted to killing two men over an unpaid debt—a dispute that left Jay Collins, 66, and Donny Shipp, 70, dead in their own home near the Ozarks.
Background
The murders occurred late in June 2025 at Collins' residence on Lands End Road in Chester, a tiny unincorporated community roughly 30 miles northeast of Fort Smith, Arkansas, nestled near the Oklahoma border. The rural setting—wooded terrain near the Boston Mountains—initially complicated the investigation for Crawford County Sheriff's Office detectives.
According to Sheriff Daniel Perry, Nelson and Eddie Sterling visited the victims' home earlier that same day before returning hours later with a firearm. The initial visit ended after an argument over what authorities describe as debt between the families. During that confrontation, one of the men issued a warning: if the financial obligation remained unsettled, there would be consequences.
"There was some discussion between the two about some debt between the families," Perry told local outlets KHBS and KHOG. "And one had made a threat to the other one that if the debt didn't get taken care of, that there would be consequences for their actions."
When Nelson and Sterling returned later that night, the situation escalated beyond verbal sparring.
"Words were exchanged, and they pulled a gun and started shooting," Perry recounted.
The Charges
Nelson, 45, pleaded guilty in May to two counts of murder in the first degree and one count of being a habitual offender. Crawford County Circuit Court Judge Karen Steele handed down an 80-year sentence for each murder conviction, ordered to run consecutively, totaling 160 years behind bars in an Arkansas state prison.
Sterling, 54, faced considerably less severe charges despite his involvement. He pleaded guilty to hindering apprehension and tampering with physical evidence, receiving a 20-year sentence. Sterling never fired a weapon that night—his role centered on procuring the firearm used in the killings and providing transportation.
"Eddie Sterling said he went and got the gun," Perry explained. "He is not the shooter, but he was the one that went and retrieved the gun for the two."
An affidavit obtained by KNWA revealed Sterling's claimed lack of knowledge regarding Nelson's true intentions. Sterling told investigators he drove Nelson to the residence under the guise of negotiating a deal to protect himself and his family. The court document further stated Sterling positioned his vehicle to facilitate a quick escape, though something went wrong once Nelson entered the home.
After entering alone, Nelson fired multiple rounds into the residence. Collins died at the scene while Shipp was airlifted to a nearby medical facility but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Sterling remained in the driver's seat and told investigators he heard more than five shots ring out through the wooded area before hearing Nelson shout for him to flee.
Key Takeaways
- Billy Joe Nelson received 160 years in prison—two consecutive 80-year sentences—for the double murder of Jay Collins, 66, and Donny Shipp, 70
- Nelson pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder plus being a habitual offender
- Eddie Sterling, who provided the firearm and getaway vehicle but did not fire any shots, received 20 years for hindering apprehension and tampering with evidence
- The killings stemmed from an unpaid debt between their families that had apparently festered for some time before erupting in violence
- Both victims were found shot inside Collins' home on Lands End Road in Chester, Arkansas—a rural Ozarks community near the Oklahoma border
What's Next
Nelson will serve his sentence within the Arkansas Department of Corrections system. No further court dates have been scheduled as both defendants entered guilty pleas rather than proceeding to trial. The case underscores how simmering financial disputes between families can catastrophically escalate when threats are issued and taken seriously.
The Crawford County Sheriff's Office investigation remains closed, with prosecutors having secured convictions through the plea agreements.