New investigation brings new witnesses in cold case

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

Twenty-seven years after 14-year-old Seligman resident Justin Hocutt was found dead on the train tracks 100 yards away from his girlfriend’s home, three men have been arrested and charged with the teenager’s murder.

Mark Wesley Scott, Bobby Ray Scott and David Ray Scott have each been charged with first-degree murder in for Hocutt’s death in October 1999.

All three men have been arrested. David Scott, born 1977, of Pineville, is being held in the Barry County jail on no bond and was arraigned on July 27, pleading not guilty. His next court appearance is a bond hearing scheduled for Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge Robert Foulke.

Mark Scott, born 1980, of Little Rock, Ark., and Bobby Scott, born 1978, of Little Rock, Ark., were both arrested in  Pulaski County, Ark.

Mark has waived extradition and local authorities are planning a time to pick him up for said extradition. Amy Boxx, Barry County prosecutor, said he should appear in court with 48 hours of being booked into the Barry County jail.

Bobby chose not waive extradition, Boxx said, and her office has 60 days to get a Governor’s Warrant to have him extradited to Barry County.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Master Sgt. J.L. Mason, with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at about 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, 1999, the Barry County Sheriff’s office responded to a call for service of a human body located on the railroad tracks north of Missouri Package (a commercial business) on Business Highway 37 in Seligman.

The deceased was identified as Hocutt, and the Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad to conduct the investigation, with the primary investigating agency being the railroad.

Mason’s statement said through the original investigation, it was determined Hocutt was visiting Catrina Johnso, his juvenile girlfriend, at her residence, located at Rt. 1 Box 1179 B (now known as 29016 Main St.) in Seligman.

Sometime around 4-5 a.m., Harold Johnson, Catrina’s father, woke up and discovered both juveniles lying together in the living room floor. Harold allegedly confronted Hocutt. As a result of being found together, Harold, Mark Wesley Scott, Bobby Ray Scott, and David Scott allegedly began to physically assault Hocutt. Mark, Bobby and David were identified as the stepbrothers of Catrina. 

A witness inside the residence (Witness No. 2) observed the beating and watched as the group allegedly strangled Hocutt by placing a rope around his neck. The witness also allegedly heard the group making statements about going to the tracks. 

Investigators also learned that Brenda Scott, the mother of the three brother, also allegedly participated in the beating. It was reported that Hocutt was beaten with a stick, a cane, a baseball bat or a similar object during the incident. Witness No. 1 was also inside the residence and allegedly observed Harold confronting Hocutt and the beating that ensued.

When Hocutt’s body was located on the tracks, the positioning of his body was a short distance from the Johnson/Scott residence, which was located directly across the street from the railroad tracks. It was believed that Hocutt was struck multiple times by a passing train before the discovery of his body.

Mason said in the statement numerous police officers and law enforcement agencies participated in the original

investigation. Multiple witness statements were collected and numerous statements identified Harold Johnson, Brenda Scott, Mark Scott, Bobby Scott, and David Scott as the subjects allegedly responsible for Hocutt’s death and the placement of his body onto the railroad tracks. 

However, the original investigation eventually was designated a cold case and/or unsolved. It is unknown to current members of the investigative team (Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Barry County Sheriffs Office Investigators), why the case is unsolved and why subjects responsible for the death haven’t been charged criminally.

While reviewing the autopsy report, the doctor determined that based on medical evidence observed at the time of the autopsy, Hocutt was alive at the time he was placed on the railroad tracks and struck by a train.

The Barry County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri State Highway Patrol initiated a new investigation in February 2026, and Mason noted multiple witnesses expressed concerns for their safety if they participated or assisted law enforcement. As a result, witness’ names in the probable cause statement have been withheld, instead identified by number. Mason also noted that multiple witnesses, including Harold Johnson and Brenda Scott, are now deceased.

Mason said throughout the years following the alleged homicide, Witness No. 1 has made statements to multiple individuals that Brenda Scott beat Hocutt with a stick and Brenda’s sons (at least two, Mark and Bobby) were involved in the alleged beating and death. In addition, Mark and Bobby have also allegedly made numerous comments about their involvement in the juvenile’s death.

Mason said on Feb. 18, he met with Barry County Sheriff Danny Boyd and other investigators at the Sheriff’s Office, Per Sheriff Boyd, in 1999, Hocutt was found deceased after being struck by a train multiple times. Sheriff Boyd indicated that current investigators with the Sheriffs Office have reviewed the original investigation and believe Hocutt’s death was a result of a violent confrontation. His body, Boyd said, was then placed on the track in an attempt to hide evidence of the assault.

On Feb. 18, Witness No. 3 was interviewed. On the day Justin Hocutt’s body was discovered on the railroad tracks, Witness No. 3 allegedly observed Brenda Scott purchasing five gallons of bleach.

On Feb. 19, Witness No. 4 was interviewed. On the night the witness believed the homicide occurred, the witness allegedly observed Mark fighting Hocutt in the front yard/ditch near 29016 Main St. The witness said Mark did not like Hocutt and was jealous of his relationship with Catrina. 

Brenda and Bobby were allegedly watching the fight, and during the altercation, the witness believed Brenda struck Justin in the head with a cast iron skillet. The witness was uncertain what happened to Hocutt after the fight. 

The witness allegedly observed this from a nearby vacant apartment. Later in the evening, Witness No. 1 informed Witness No. 4 that the Scotts did not like Hocutt, and they allegedly killed him. Witness No. 4 returned to the vacant apartment the following night and found one of the Johnsons inside (the witness believed this was Gary johnson) with a bunch of kids, cleaning. When the witness left the previous day, the apartment was clean. 

The witness advised the apartment had a strong odor of bleach throughout, and the witness did not use blelach use because of a recent medical procedure. The witness wondered if Hocutt was brought into the

apartment during or after the homicide. On the night of the homicide, the street light near the roadway was allegedly shot out, making it so dark no one could see.

On March 20, Witness No. 5 was interviewed. Prior to Hocutt’s death, the witness was sitting on the front porch of a nearby residence. Hocutt was in the front yard of the apartments and was having some sort of disagreement with two of Catrina’s older stepbrothers. The witness allegedly observed and overheard David and Bobby arguing with Hocutt. David and Bobby were confronting Hocutt about some sort of incident involving Catrina where they had been caught together in some manner. 

As the confrontation occurred, the witness stated Hocutt was back peddling with his hands/arms raised in the air, and was apologetic. Hocutt repeatedly stated something similar to, “my bad,” the witness said. 

The Scott brothers were allegedly aggressively walking towards Hocutt, but the situation didn’t escalate into a physical altercation. As Hocutt was leaving the yard, Bobby said something similar to, “We’ll talk soon, Justin.” 

Later, the witness observed Catrina having a “huge meltdown” with her stepbrothers and Brenda. Catrina was crying, stating that they (Hocutt and Catrina) didn’t do anything wrong. The witness said Catrina’s stepmother then forced her back into the apartment.

On April 23, Witness No. 6 was interviewed. The witness stated around 5 a.m. on “the morning that it happened” a lot of noise was coming from Harold and Brenda’s apartment. The witness advised it sounded like someone was fighting because they heard a lot of screaming, cussing and yelling. 

After Angela Johnson, Catrina’s sister, and Witness No. 8 discovered Hocutt’s body, they responded to the residence of the witness and informed the witness of their discovery. The witness questioned them on why they didn’t notify the adults at the Johnson/Scott residence. Chadwell and Johnson advised that they did; however. Harold and Brenda told them to notify the witness. 

Approximately two days later, Mark was at the residence of the witness, and the witness allegedly overheard Mark saying that he was wearing the boy’s hat and the hat still had brain matter on it. In addition, the witness allegedly overheard Mark say something similar to, ”I didn’t mean to do it, brother.” 

Later, the witness took Harold Johnson and Brenda Scott to a law office for legal assistance. Harold and Brenda were sitting in the back seat of the van when Harold Johnson allegedly informed, “Brenda, I told you, you shouldn’t have hit him in the head with a baseball bat.” Brenda Scott allegedly replied, “Shut up, Harold. We’re not in the van by ourselves.”

On May 6, Witness No. 7 was interviewed. The witness said in approximately 2015, the witness and Mark were sitting on the front porch of the witness’ residence. Mark drank three beers during the visit, the witness said. They talked about Catrina and/or Hocutt’s death. The witness said Mark allegedly divulged he and Bobby came in and started punching Hocutt, and Hocutt stopped moving. Bobby allegedly informed Mark that he believed he (Bobby) hit Hocutt too hard.

On May 12, Witness No. 8 was interviewed. While walking on the railroad tracks, the witness and Angela Johnson, who lived at the same residence as Catrina, discovered Hocutt’s body. The body was located approximately 100 yards from Angela’s residence. The body was located on the railroad tracks and was positioned in a 10 o’clock direction from the Johnson/Scott residence.

On May 19, Witness No. 9 was interviewed. The witness participated in a law enforcement interview of witness No. 1. During the interview, witness No. 1 identified two of Brenda Scott’s sons as the subjects responsible for Hocutt’s death. Witness No. 9 recalled Mark was one of the sons. However, the witness had difficulty recalling the second son. 

Mason said he mentioned the names of Bobby and David, and. Witness No. 9 immediately recalled the second son/suspect as Bobby. Per Witness No. 1, Hocutt snuck over to the Johnson/Scott residence. The witness said at some point, Harold caught Hocutt and Catrina together at the house. The witness said Bobby and Ray “stomped Justin’s head in with their boots.”

On May 19, former Barry County Detective Brian Martin was interviewed. Martin said he conducted a recorded interview of Witness No. 1, which was attended by Witness No. 9. On the evening prior, when the Johnsons and Scotts went to bed, Hocutt wasn’t at the residence. However, some of the Johnsons and Scotts were employed as chicken catchers and had to be to work during the early morning hours.

Martin said when the Johnsons and Scotts woke up, they found Hocutt and Catrina lying on the floor together. Martin believed Brenda was the instigator and Harold likely helped. Mark and Bobby, Martin said, allegedly killed Hocutt in the living room, allegedly beating him with sticks and a pipe. 

Martin confirmed that Brenda kept a stick behind her door that was used on anyone who visited the residence

that “needed an attitude adjustment.”

Mason’s probable cause statement has been filed in the case of David Scott, who he said allegedly participated in the murder of Hocutt by beating, stoping and/or striking Hocutt with an object, causing Hocutt to become incapacitated of unresponsive.

Mason said during the unresponsive period, David allegedly coordinated with other suspects to transport Hocutt to the railroad track, where he was struck by the passing train.

Regarding probable cause statements for Mark and Bobby, Boxx said per Court Operating Rule 4.24, it is prohibited to disclose to the public any documents in a felony case that does not yet have a served warrant filed. Boxx noted that the probable cause statements for all three brothers are very similar.