Bentonville man pleads guilty to killing wife

Friday, April 4, 2014

A Bentonville man was sentenced Friday to to 35 years in prison for killing his wife.

photo

Benton County Jail

Perry Davis

Perry Davis Jr. pleaded guilty to first degree murder and kidnapping. He was originally charged with capital murder, but agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charge under a plea agreement his attorneys, Madison Aydelott and Scott McElveen, reached with Stuart Cearley and Nathan Smith, deputy prosecutors.

Davis' jury trial was slated to begin April 15.

Davis, 50, admitted to shooting and killing his 44-year-old wife, Kelly, in August 2012.

Police were called to the couple's home at 804 S.W. Ouachita Drive in Bentonville at 5:21 p.m. Aug. 19, 2012, in connection with a domestic disturbance.

Kelly Davis ' body was found in the home after police entered almost five hours after her 911 call. Police entered the home after Perry Davis called 911, claiming he had been shot and needed assistance. Police believe Perry Davis shot himself after shooting his wife.

Perry Davis has a pre-frontal lobe injury, is now blind and suffers from retrograde amnesia because of the self-inflicted wound, according to court documents. Davis had a mental evaluation and he was found fit to stand trial.

Circuit Judge Brad Karren accepted the plea agreement and Davis' guilty plea.