Not guilty plea : Anderson enters plea in capital murder case

Trial date set for Sept. 25

By Scott F Davis

Posted: July 28, 2009 at 6:46 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — Ricky Ray Anderson pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday to a capital murder charge related to the stabbing death of Jill Ulmer of Fayetteville.

Anderson wore a jailissued, orange jump suit and both leg irons and handcuffs as he stood before Washington County Detention Center Judicial Officer Ray Reynolds with defense attorneys Joseph "Paul" Smith and Roxanne Blake at each side.

Members of the Ulmer family and Anderson's wife were present in the waiting room and watched the arraignment on the closedcircuit television, officials said. They did not speak toeach other or make public comments.

Anderson, 41, of Farmington, is accused on June 26 ofstabbing Ulmer, 26, an exgirlfriend, in her Fayetteville apartment 25 or 30 times and causing her death. Anderson is also accused of causing police to shoot at him during the attack when an officer's bullet ricocheted and struck Ulmer in the head.

Anderson also pleaded not guilty to felony charges of criminal mischief for allegedly destroying a flatscreen television and other property at Ulmer's residence on June 7. Defendants routinely plead not guilty at their arraignments.

His trial date was set for Sept. 25, but Blake said she expects the case will be continued at least a couple of times.

Anderson is being held without bond. Fourth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney John Threet said hehas not yet decided if he will pursue the death penalty in this case. The only other sentencing option upon conviction is life without the possibility of parole.

Anderson was released from an Oklahoma prison in 2008 on a 1996 conviction, and his new charges violate the terms of his parole. His incarceration involves charges of robbery or attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, unauthorized useof a vehicle, possession of cocaine and unlawful possession of paraphernalia, according to Oklahoma officials.

The State Medical Examiner's Office confir med Ulmer was about eight weeks pregnant at the time of her death, but Threet said Anderson cannot be charged with a second murder because the fetus was too young as defined by state law.

Preliminary findings issued by the State Medical Examiner's Office indicate Ulmer's death was caused by multiple stab woundsfound all over her body and a .40-caliber bullet wound to her head. While the gunshot wound was fatal, so was a knife wound that severed a major artery in Ulmer's abdomen. State medical examiner reports indicate Ulmer would have died within minutes, even if she hadn't been shot by police.

Smith said the state medical examiner's final report will be important to know the exact cause of death.

"We just don't have a lot of information yet," Smith said.

An internal investigation conducted by the Fayetteville Police Department determined that both officers - Cpl. Chris Scherrey and Officer Ken Willyard - acted in accordance with departmental policy. The State Crime Lab was unable to tell which officer fired the bullet that struck Ulmer, officials said.

Threet is reviewing an external investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office and said he will decide today whether the officers violated any laws when a bullet fired from one of their weapons inadvertently struck Ulmer.

News, Pages 1, 3 on 07/28/2009

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