ABC 20/20 “Red Handed” August 1 2025

This Friday, August 1, 2025, at 9:01–11:00 p.m. EDT, 20/20 airs Red Handed, a powerful two-hour encore episode examining the brutal murder of former Arkansas State Senator Linda Collins-Smith. Co-anchor Deborah Roberts leads the report into a case that stunned a small community and exposed the devastating betrayal at the center of a tragic crime.

Collins-Smith, a respected politician and successful businesswoman, was found dead outside her home in Pocahontas, Arkansas. As rumors swirled, suspicion initially fell on her ex-husband, former judge Philip Smith, due to their contentious divorce and the financial disputes that followed. But what investigators uncovered shocked even those closest to Linda.

The arrest of Becky O’Donnell—Linda’s longtime friend, political ally, and business manager—sent shockwaves through Arkansas. O’Donnell had not only worked closely with Collins-Smith but had even spoken at her memorial. Surveillance footage from cameras Linda had installed herself ultimately led police to the truth, capturing O’Donnell’s movements and providing key evidence in her arrest and conviction.

Red Handed features exclusive interviews with jailhouse informants who played a crucial role in the case, helping prosecutors build a timeline and understand O’Donnell’s motives. The program also includes emotional conversations with Linda’s children, Butch Smith and Tate Williams, as they reflect on their mother’s legacy and the betrayal they never saw coming.

Additional interviews include Tim Loggains, O’Donnell’s ex-fiancé and a friend of Linda’s; Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell; and detectives and state senators who knew both women.

Through gripping interviews and detailed reporting, 20/20 brings viewers into the heart of a case that started with political ambition and ended in a shocking act of violence. Don’t miss Red Handed Friday night on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.