LOCAL NEWS

On November 5, 2025 at about 11:00 AM the Union County Sheriff’s Office was called to 1213 Parkers Chapel Road in reference to a disturbance between two individuals that were working on the property. The caller stated that one of the involved parties was on scene and appeared to be deceased while the other, identified as thirty-six-year-old Blakney Bryant, was no longer present. As deputies and investigators were arriving on scene, the Union County Dispatch Center notified deputies of the home address on record for the suspect. Other responding units diverted to this location and Blakney was detained.

Upon arrival at the Parkers Chapel Road location deputies and investigators found the victim, sixty-four-year-old Billy Joel Funderburg lying on the floor of an outdoor kitchen/workshop area on the property. Mr. Funderburg had several obvious injuries and was not responsive. ProMed Ambulance responded to the scene and found that Mr. Funderburg had no signs of life. Investigators noted several severe injuries to Mr. Funderburg consistent with a violent confrontation. The property owner, who had notified dispatch of the incident, stated that he had left both Blakney and Funderburg working at the property earlier in the morning. He later returned to the property where he discovered the scene and that Blakney was gone. Investigators also learned that Mr. Funderburg was the step-father of Mr. Blakney.

Investigators interviewed Blakney at the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and after this interview, Blakney was booked into the Union County Jail for First Degree Murder. Blakney will appear in Union County District Court on November 7, 2025 at 10:00 for a First Appearance hearing. Mr. Funderburg was submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for autopsy. This is an ongoing investigation.