Davis Held Without Bond
Saturday, November 10, 2012
BENTONVILLE — A circuit judge on Friday ordered Perry Dennis Davis Jr. be held without bond on murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the August shooting death of his wife.
Davis, 49, appeared Friday morning before Circuit Judge Robin Green. Bentonville police went to a Springdale hospital and arrested Davis on Thursday night.
Davis continues to recover from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Court documents claim Davis has a prefrontal lobe injury from the wound and is now blind and suffers from retrograde amnesia.
At A Glance
The Charges
Perry Dennis Davis Jr. faces life imprisonment or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. A conviction for kidnapping, a Class Y felony, could bring a sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment. Prosecutors have not filed formal charges against Davis.
Source: Staff Report
Davis is accused of killing his 44-year-old wife, Kelly. Police believe Davis shot himself after shooting his wife. Police were called to the couple’s home at 804 S.W. Ouachita Drive in Bentonville at 5:21 p.m. Aug. 19 in connection with a domestic disturbance.
“I am defending this tragic event until arraignment to learn what happened,” Ray Niblock, a Fayetteville attorney, said. “The process will sort things out. Perry is presumed innocent.”
Niblock told Green he had been appointed to represent Davis by the probate court during the pre-arraignment process.
Green said Davis’ legal representation will be determined at his arraignment. Green said she was aware Davis is blind and wanted Niblock to read to him line by line the probable cause affidavit so Davis would be aware of the allegations against him.
Prosecutor Van Stone requested Davis be held without bond.
Niblock asked Green to leave open the possibility of another bond hearing later out of concern for what he said is Davis’ traumatic brain injury and getting him restorative therapy. Niblock told the court Davis has his home in Bentonville and if released on bond could live there, but he would need the aid of a health provider.
Green wanted to know whether the Benton County Jail has the ability to tend to Davis’ medical needs. Stone said he believes Davis’ health needs could be taken care of in the jail.
“It was an uneventful last night,” Stone said of Davis’ first night in jail.
Perry Davis is scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 17 for his arraignment.