20/20 ABC Tonight: “Red Handed” August 1 2025

This Friday, August 1, 2025, from 9:01–11:00 p.m. EDT, 20/20 rebroadcasts Red Handed, the gripping two-hour special that unravels the murder of former Arkansas State Senator Linda Collins-Smith. Anchored by Deborah Roberts, the episode explores how a high-profile political figure met a tragic end at the hands of someone she once trusted most—her best friend and business manager, Becky O’Donnell.

In May 2019, Collins-Smith was found murdered outside her home, wrapped in a blanket and left to decompose near her driveway. At first, suspicion turned toward her ex-husband, Philip Smith, a former judge with whom she had gone through a bitter divorce involving millions of dollars. But as investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a far more unsettling truth.

The story took a shocking turn when O’Donnell, who was not only Linda’s close friend but also her financial assistant, was arrested en route to Collins-Smith’s memorial service. Security footage from cameras Collins-Smith had installed on her property became the key to cracking the case—and exposing a betrayal that stunned the community.

Red Handed features emotional interviews with Linda’s children, Butch Smith and Tate Williams, who speak out about their mother’s legacy and the pain of losing her so violently. The episode also includes exclusive interviews with jailhouse informants who helped secure O’Donnell’s conviction, Randolph County Sheriff Kevin Bell, key detectives, and Arkansas state senators who watched the case unfold from inside the Capitol.

With detailed reporting and never-before-seen footage, 20/20 dives into the toxic unraveling of a once-close friendship and the forensic evidence that ultimately brought a killer to justice.

Don’t miss this unforgettable episode of 20/20, airing Friday night on ABC, with streaming available the next day on Hulu.