FAYETTEVILLE — Rico Tavarous Cohn, 26, of Springdale has entered a not guilty plea before Magistrate Ray Reynolds in the 2006 death of Nina Ingram.
Cohn’s trial is scheduled for Aug. 20.
Cohn appeared before Reynolds in the small courtroom inside the Washington County Detention Center. He was told of the capital murder charge against him and allowed to enter the not guilty plea. No other plea is typically allowed in a person's first appearance after an arrest.
Police arrested Cohn on June 6 after an anonymous tip led a detective to consider Cohn’s involvement in the April 2006 death of Ingram at her Fayetteville apartment at 701 W. Sycamore St. Ingram, 21, was strangled. Cohn’s arrest is the first in Ingram’s death.
Police and the Washington County Prosecutor’s Office haven’t revealed any connection between Cohn and Ingram or what evidence led them to the arrest. Prosecutor John Threet sought and a judge approved a seal on court records detailing the probable cause for Cohn’s arrest.
Ingram’s brother found her body inside her apartment bedroom April 22, 2006. She promised to give him a ride that morning but never showed, police said. He crawled through her window after knocking on her door.