Arkansas Woman Sentenced to 20 Years for Shooting Ex-Boyfriend 17 Times Over Spiritual Issues

An Arkansas woman has been sentenced to serve 20 years in state prison after pleading guilty to shooting her ex-boyfriend 17 times. Rebecca Jane Mryglod, 38, was arrested following an incident that occurred on November 16, 2024, at a residence on Altom Road in Drasco, Arkansas.

According to court documents and police reports, officers were dispatched to the scene after receiving a call about a shooting. Upon arrival, they found the victim being loaded into an ambulance covered in blood and screaming in pain. Mryglod was discovered outside the house, crying and breathing rapidly with blood on her clothes and hands. Approximately 100 yards from the residence, investigators located a Kel-Tec .22-caliber pistol.

During questioning at the sheriff's office, Mryglod admitted that she had moved back in with Kevin, her ex-boyfriend, to help him "battle his spiritual demons." She stated that she purchased the gun three days prior and had been practicing target shooting. When asked what prompted her to shoot Kevin, Mryglod said she preferred for him to be dead rather than continue assisting him spiritually.

The incident unfolded early in the morning when Mryglod woke up around 5 a.m., retrieved the firearm from her vehicle, and returned home after dropping off her daughter at school. Upon entering the house, she confronted Kevin about his plans for the day, which led to an argument. According to Mryglod's account, as Kevin stood up, she pointed the gun at him and began firing.

Mryglod faced multiple charges including attempted murder in the first degree, first-degree domestic battery, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. However, several charges were dropped during plea negotiations, leaving her with a single count of domestic battery in the first degree for which she received 240 months in prison. She has already spent 648 days in pretrial detention.

The case highlights the complex interplay between personal relationships, mental health issues, and violent crime. Mryglod's actions stem from her perceived obligation to assist Kevin with his spiritual struggles, reflecting a deeply emotional and psychological conflict that ultimately resulted in severe violence.