“We’ve got to get our stories straight;” 6-year-old girl died after her father who always had a gun in his hand when drunk or high shot her in the head; father sentenced

Arkansas – In a tragic case of domestic chaos and deadly recklessness in Arkansas, a 45-year-old father, identified as Jordan C. was sentenced to decades behind bars after pleading guilty to killing his 6-year-old daughter daughter. Jordan was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the May 2023 shooting death of his young daughter. The heartbreaking incident, which unfolded during a day filled with arguments, alcohol, and suspected drug use, left a family devastated and a community shaken.

The nightmare began on May 29, 2023, when police were called to the home following a horrifying scene. Officers arrived to find Jordan and his wife, Melissa C., holding their blood-covered daughter, who was already lifeless by the time first responders arrived. During his first statements to police, Jordan claimed that the shooting had been an accident. He stated that he was putting his daughter to bed and had grabbed his gun for protection. However, when asked how his daughter was shot, he could only say, “I don’t know what happened.”

What initially appeared to be a tragic accident quickly turned far darker as investigators began speaking to family members and witnesses. It was soon revealed that Jordan had a long history of alcohol and methamphetamine abuse, along with a dangerous obsession with carrying firearms while intoxicated or high. One witness revealed to police that “if he was drunk or high, he always had a gun in his hand.” Another person close to the family shared that Jordan had even “put a gun to Melissa’s head” in a previous incident, highlighting the violent environment that surrounded the family.

Adding to investigators’ suspicions was what Jordan said immediately after the fatal shooting. Melissa’s sister, Michelle M., told police she overheard Jordan say, “we’ve got to get our stories straight,” just moments after their daughter was shot. Michelle also shared that earlier that same day, Melissa had demanded Jordan leave her home after a heated argument, but he refused. Later, as Melissa arrived at his apartment, she was still on the phone with her sister when tragedy struck. Michelle recounted hearing Jordan say, “get ready, get ready,” before Melissa discovered her daughter’s lifeless body and began screaming in horror.

Neighbors who arrived at the scene quickly noticed Jordan was intoxicated. Michelle’s husband told police he could smell alcohol on Jordan’s breath and suspected he had also been using methamphetamine. Even more disturbing, Jordan reportedly gave conflicting stories to police about what happened. Investigators noted he “gave different versions of the events and circumstances” surrounding the fatal shooting.

Cellphone records revealed that after the shooting, Jordan made three phone calls, yet none were to 911 or emergency services, raising further questions about his intent and state of mind. One neighbor later told police that Jordan, in a state of distress, said aloud, “my daughter’s dead, what have I done?” He also asked another neighbor to call his wife and say, “I just killed our daughter.” As the investigation continued, authorities arrested Jordan on August 1, 2023, charging him with first-degree murder. Facing overwhelming evidence, Jordan eventually agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder.

In court, the gravity of the crime was not lost on the judge, who sentenced Jordan to 30 years in prison. He will serve that sentence without the possibility of early release. The loss of the innocent 6-year-old girl was felt deeply by both family members and investigators. What was initially called an accident became painfully clear to be the result of years of violent behavior, substance abuse, and dangerous decisions. With Jordan now sentenced, the case comes to a legal close — but for the family and community left behind, the wounds caused by the little girl’s violent and senseless death remain raw and permanent.