Executive Summary
- Michael Hogue and Amanda Penny were arrested by U.S. Marshals on November 17 in connection with a July homicide.
- The victim was identified as 41-year-old Kevin Nikel, a local wrestler known professionally as ‘Ivan Warsaw’.
- Hogue faces a charge of first-degree murder, while Penny is charged as an accomplice to first-degree murder. Both also face firearms charges.
BENTON COUNTY, AR – The U.S. Marshals Service has arrested two individuals in connection with the July shooting death of Arkansas wrestler Kevin Nikel. On November 17, authorities apprehended Michael Hogue in Fort Smith on a charge of first-degree murder and Amanda Penny in Rogers on a charge of being an accomplice to first-degree murder.
Both Michael Hogue and Amanda Penny face additional charges of possession of a firearm by certain persons, according to a statement from the U.S. Marshals Service. The arrests stem from an investigation led by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office into the death of Nikel, who was 41 years old.
The incident occurred on July 11, 2025, when the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in the area of East Highway 12 near Rogers. Deputies found Nikel with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Following an investigation, the sheriff’s office obtained warrants for the two suspects on November 17 and enlisted the U.S. Marshals for their apprehension. Nikel was a figure in the local wrestling community, affiliated with Ozark Mountain Wrestling and known by several stage names, including ‘Ivan Warsaw’ and ‘Knuckles Madsen’.
Hogue and Penny are currently being held at the Benton County Jail as they await a bond hearing. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.