BENTONVILLE — A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against a Bentonville man accused of killing his wife last year.
Perry Dennis Davis Jr., 50, is charged in connection with capital murder and kidnapping. Davis faces life in prison without parole or the death sentence if convicted of capital murder. The kidnapping charge is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years or life in prison.
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.
Fayetteville attorneys Shawn Daniels and Chad Atwell filed the suit Thursday in Benton County Circuit Court on behalf of Wendy Cravens, who is Kelly Davis’ sister and the administrator of her estate.
The lawsuit also includes John Does listed as defendants and includes any “individuals, employers or entities who are responsible or aware of Perry Davis’ homicidal tendencies and failed to take appropriate action despite being aware of his tendencies.”
According to court documents, the lawsuit also includes anyone “who had any responsibility for supervising or counseling Perry Davis and who may have been aware of his previous threats or violence towards his wife and failed to take appropriate action.”
Kelly Davis’ body was found in the home when police entered almost five hours after an initial 911 call from her. Police moved in after Perry Davis called 911, claiming he’d been shot and needed assistance. Police found Perry Davis on the master bedroom floor with a gunshot wound to his face, according to court documents. Kelly Davis was found dead on the master bedroom floor.
The complaint contends Perry Davis attacked and physically assaulted and battered his wife and then used a 9mm handgun to shoot and kill her. The lawsuit seeks damages for Kelly Davis’ “pain and suffering, loss of life, medical expenses, funeral expenses, pecuniary loss to her survivors and the loss of companionship and grief of her surviving beneficiaries.”
The lawsuit seeks unspecified punitive damages. The lawsuit is assigned to Circuit Judge John Scott.
Perry Davis was hospitalized for several weeks because of the gunshot to his head. Court documents state he has a prefrontal lobe injury from the wound, is now blind and has retrograde amnesia.
His criminal case is assigned to Circuit Judge Brad Karren.
Perry Davis previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.