FAYETTEVILLE — Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested four people Thursday night in connection with the beating death of a 48-year-old Prairie Grove man.
Ronnie Lee Bradley’s body was discovered Thursday morning in the driveway of 17409 Four Corners Road, near the intersection of Greasy Valley Road in rural southwest Washington County, according to a news release.
A preliminary arrest report said Bradley appeared to have been severely beaten.
“He was laying there with no shirt on, jeans and tennis shoes. He was laying on his stomach all spread out,” said Richard Haegele, who found Bradley with his daughter-in-law, Paula Haegele.
Paula Haegele found the body around 8 a.m. Thursday, then ran to her in-laws’ house dozens of feet away, said Bonnie Haegele, her mother-in-law. They immediately called police.
“She was checking her turkeys, and she happened to glance down the road and on the hill of the driveway there was a dead man,” said Bonnie Haegele.
Arrested were Anthony Allen Swinford, 35, and Timothy William Swinford, 37, both of 16296 Elgin Road in Prairie Grove, along with Heather Carlene Swain and James Patton, both 35, of 17191 Edwards Road in Prairie Grove. They face felony charges in connection with accomplice to capital murder, engaging in violent criminal group activity and kidnapping.
Capt. Dallas McClellan said detectives arrived at the scene about 8:30 a.m.
“We received a call of an unidentified white male,” he said. “We determined that the death was a homicide. We then processed the scene and transferred the body to the Coroner’s Office.”
Brandi Sellers, who lives next to the Haegeles, said her husband noticed deputies standing around a body near the end of their driveway Thursday morning.
“He was trying to go to work and saw the police at the end of our driveway,” she said. “There was a man without a shirt on. He looked young.”
Sellers said she and her husband didn’t hear or see anything suspicious Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
McClellan said investigators identified Bradley through fingerprints.
“At that time, we received information out of Prairie Grove that Anthony Swinford made comments concerning Bradley’s death,” he said. “Detectives arrested him on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant.”
According to a preliminary arrest report, Swinford told investigators he beat Bradley and left him on Four Corners Road. He identified Swain, Patton and Timothy Swinford as accomplices in the beating, according to the report. Anthony Swinford said they beat Bradley repeatedly at different locations across southwest Washington County.
“We’re under the understanding that this crime took place in a vehicle over several hours,” McClellan said. “We don’t believe a weapon was used besides the human weapon of hands.”
Investigators recovered bloody clothing, along with the vehicle used during the beating, the report said.
McClellan wouldn’t reveal the type of vehicle involved or circumstances surrounding Bradley’s beating.
“We have to interview more people before we disclose additional information,” McClellan said. “We’re searching the area and going down many miles of road now, looking for pieces of evidence.”
McClellan said Bradley appeared to have been killed before being left on Four Corners Road.
“There was no evidence at the scene that showed the homicide took place there,” he said.
Sellers said she was shocked to learn of Swain’s possible involvement in Bradley’s death.
She and her husband used to live next door to Swain in 2010 when they lived in Lincoln.
“I’m dumbfounded and very upset,” she said. “I would never think anyone I know would be capable of doing something like this.”
The last time Sellers spoke to Swain was a couple months ago when Swain “was looking for a place to stay.”
Sellers said Swain visited her home at least once since she and her husband moved to the area. But, she didn’t know why Swain would leave a body in her driveway.
“I don’t know if they came to our house deliberately or what,” she said. “It’s very upsetting.”
According to the report, “some of the defendants” revealed while they beat Bradley, he said, “Please take me home.”
Swain and Patton, along with Anthony and Timothy Swinford had injuries “indicating their involvement in an altercation,” the report said.
McClellan said detectives believe Bradley knew the four.
He said investigators don’t know if drugs were involved, but believe alcohol played a role.
Richard and Bonnie Haegele said they’re not concerned about finding a body near their home. They said they didn’t recognize Bradley’s name or the people arrested.
“I don’t think (Bradley) was local. I don’t think the killers were local,” Bonnie Haegele said. “If they were local people, I would be real concerned.”
McClellan said all four suspects have a criminal history with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Court records reveal each have been convicted on a variety of offenses between 1992 and 2011.
Bradley was convicted in 2011 for possession of methadone, according to court records.
Swain, Patton and Timothy and Anthony Swinford were in the Washington County Detention Center without bond Friday. Swain also faces a felony charge in connection with tampering with physical evidence.
Tony Hernandez contributed to this report.