BENTONVILLE — The Police Department could name a suspect in the death of a 6-year-old girl as early as today, Chief Jon Simpson said Wednesday.
Police sent more than 50 items of evidence from searches of three houses along Southeast A Street to the State Crime Lab, Simpson said at a news conference. Jersey Bridgeman’s body was sent to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner’s Office on Tuesday.
“She was always bouncing around. Always trying to have fun. She is going to be missed dearly.” —Kyle Johnson, family friend
Jersey’s body was found in a vacant home at 704 S.E. A St., two houses south of her residence. Utilities at 704 S.E. A St. haven’t been active since 2010, according to records.
Jersey was reported missing at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday from her home at 608 S.E. A St. A news release said her body was found 10 minutes later. The child was last seen shortly after midnight, according to Simpson. He wouldn’t disclose the identity of the person who saw her last.
Police concluded their search of the crime scene Wednesday morning. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are assisting in the investigation, Simpson said.
Those involved in the investigation encountered a “very difficult scene,” Simpson said.
“All of us are greatly affected, even the ones that were not called to the scene,” Simpson said. “This is our community. We are supposed to keep us safe. This has to give each of us a bad feeling.”
Simpson said there’s no threat to public safety despite the lack of an arrest. He said he feels answers are within reach of investigators.
“Combined with this investigation and what we know about it, there is no reason for public alarm,” he said.
He said officers were working to beat holiday deadlines for evidence submission to state agencies for evaluation. He said he believes the State Crime Lab feels the same level of urgency.
“This is a priority for all of us,” Simpson said.
Authorities refused Wednesday to release a copy of the call report in connection with the case. Police also refused to release copies of any call reports relating to the three houses involved. A request for a copy of the 911 call was also denied.
On Wednesday, yellow crime scene tape was on top of garbage in a container in the driveway of a mobile home at 702 S.E. A St. Bentonville detectives Mark Jordan and Mike Stegall knocked on the door of the mobile home, then on the door of the girl’s home. There was no answer at either address. Detectives continued knocking on doors in their quest to obtain more information in the girl’s death.
A puppy was inside a fenced area Wednesday morning in front of Jersey’s home.
Brad Brown, who lives at 204 S.E. Sixth St., was concerned whether the puppy had been fed or watered. Brown went to his home and retrieved water and food, placing them inside the fence for the puppy. A short time later, he returned with a small blanket and placed it inside the fence.
Jersey, who was 5 at the time, was found Dec. 2, 2011, chained to a dresser in her Rogers home, according to court documents. She lived with her father and stepmother, David Bridgeman and Jana Slinkard.
A woman staying with the couple reported she woke up to hear the girl crying and bound to a dresser with a chain and a loop fashioned from a belt, according to a probable cause affidavit. Bridgeman and Slinkard weren’t home, and the woman released the child.
David Bridgeman admitted in June to chaining his daughter to a dresser for three days. He claimed he was trying to protect her because she sleepwalked. She had once gotten into chemicals in the kitchen and was mixing them when she was caught.
Bridgeman pleaded guilty to felony charges and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Slinkard was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Sarah Ashley, deputy public defender who represented David Bridgeman, said she believed he was notified of his daughter’s death.
“It’s my understanding a chaplain at the prison told him,” Ashley said. “(Bridgeman) made a bad choice ... parenting decision, but it is no doubt that he loved the child.”
Stephanie McLemore, deputy prosecutor, told Circuit Judge Robin Green during the June hearing Bridgeman’s paternal rights were terminated and the girl lived with her mother.
Jersey was a kindergartner at Sugar Creek Elementary School, according to Mary Ley, communications director for the Bentonville School District. Superintendent Michael Poore said parents weren’t notified about the incident Tuesday, the last day students were in school.
Parents weren’t notified because Jersey’s name wasn’t released by the time school dismissed, Poore said.
Counselors were on-site Tuesday to help teachers and administrators.
Poore said district officials would be meet Saturday to discuss how to help students Monday when they return from Thanksgiving break.
“We grieve with that family and, hopefully, we will be there to provide support as they need it,” Poore said.
Poore said he spoke with Jersey’s kindergartner teacher, principal and assistant principals.
“The thing about this girl was that she had a huge heart and seemed to be a kid that wanted to make people happy,” Poore said. “Always a smile.”
Amy Webb, Arkansas Department of Human Services director of communications, said she was unable to release information about any contact the department had with Jersey.
“Under certain circumstances, when there is a fatality, we can release some information,” Webb said. “The prosecuting attorney’s office has asked us to not release information at this time.”
Kyle Johnson said he has known Desarae Bridgeman since they were both children.
“I can’t fathom,” Johnson said about the tragedy following the vigil.
Jersey was always a happy child, Johnson said.
“She was always bouncing around,” Johnson said. “Always trying to have fun. She is going to be missed dearly.”
April Cartee of Rogers was browsing the stacks at the Bentonville Library on Wednesday, blocks from where Jersey’s body was found.
“It brings me to tears,” Cartee said when talking about the incident. “I think it is a terrible tragedy.”
Cartee chased her 1-year-old son through aisles of books while trying to form thoughts on the girl’s death.
“I think there needs to be more community awareness,” Cartee said. “People need to speak up when they see a problem with abuse. There is a cycle. People who do it had it happen to them. Breaking that cycle is how we can fix it.”
Jersey’s mother, Desarae Bridgeman, works at E-Z Mart at the corner of Southeast A Street and Southeast Eighth Street. The store has put out a collection bucket for donations. A newspaper report about the Jersey’s murder was taped to the front of the bowl. Bills filled the container.
An employee of the store said she wasn’t allowed to talk about the Bridgemans.