BENTONVILLE -- Authorities arrested a man who was wanted in connection with killing his father-in-law in Oklahoma.
James Douglas Manken was arrested Wednesday night at his mother's home in Cherokee City, said Gary Perkinson with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Cherokee City is an unincorporated area near Gentry in Benton County.
A news release issued earlier this week from the bureau said Manken may be in Northwest Arkansas.
Manken, 40, of Watts, Okla., was booked into the Benton County Jail on Wednesday, according to the jail's website. He was arrested on a charge of first-degree murder. His arrest is in connection with the death of Wayne Lee Wennerholm. Wennerholm's body was found July 13 in his Adair County, Okla., home.
Manken's wife, Janice, was arrested as an accomplice to murder in the case. Wennerholm was Janice Manken's father, according to court documents. Janice Manken turned herself in and is being held in the Adair County Jail, said Jarrod Brown with the Adair County Sheriff's Office.
Brown said his office received a report July 13 about a dead man in a trailer. Deputies went to the home and found Wennerholm. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was asked to assist with the case, Brown said.
Capt. Lynn Hahn with the Benton County Sheriff's Office said deputies assisted the U.S. Marshals Service with the case.
"It was pretty non-eventful," Hahn said of the arrest.
Marshals had been to James Manken's mother's home earlier this week, Perkinson said.
"We appreciate the good work from Benton County authorities and U.S. Marshals Service," he said. "We appreciate their hard work and diligence in bringing Mr. Manken into custody."
The Mankens face arson charges in Benton County in a separate case. The Mankens are accused of setting fire to a trailer home at 24692 Cherokee Road in Gentry.
James Manken was arrested May 8, 2012. He was later charged in connection with arson, a Class A felony punishable with a prison sentence ranging from six to 30 years. Janice Manken also was arrested and charged with arson.
The couple's cases haven't been resolved. They were released on $15,000 bonds.
NW News on 08/01/2014