Browning Pleads Not Guilty To Capital Murder

FAYETTEVILLE — David Browning pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charges of capital murder related to the stabbing death of Shirley Wolfe at her Fayetteville home.

Browning, 55, was arrested Aug. 23 in connection with the death. Wolfe’s body was found Aug. 21 in her house at 510 S. College Ave. Wolfe was 76.

A report from the state medical examiner’s report confirmed Wolfe was stabbed.

Prosecutors in Washington County filed formal capital murder charges Tuesday. Browning also faces second-degree battery and terroristic threatening charges. He appeared before Washington County Magistrate Judge Ray Reynolds on Wednesday at a courtroom at the Washington County Detention Center.

Browning faces either life in prison or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. Prosecutors haven't said whether they will pursue the death penalty against Browning.

Browning is being held in the jail without bond.

A witness said Browning threatened to kill Wolfe if she didn’t drop terroristic threatening charges against him related to an incident July 28, according to police. In that incident, Browning had a rope and knives and was threatening to kill Wolfe and throw her body in the river, according to police.

Police had been called to the home numerous times in the past several years related to threats, physical assaults and trespass.

Browning previously served prison time for aggravated assault.

Browning was sentenced to 72 months at the Arkansas Department of Correction with 36 months suspended in 2010 after being convicted of aggravated assault.

Prison officials said Browning entered the prison system July 19, 2010, and was released Feb. 2, 2011.

Browning violated terms of parole and ended up back in the Department of Correction on Sept. 19, 2011. He was paroled April 16, and that parole ended in May.

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