BENTONVILLE -- A Gentry woman is fit to stand trial for murder, according to a judge's ruling.
Susan Fleck, 33, is charged with capital murder in connection with her husband's death last year. She is accused of shooting Evan Fleck in their home in March.
Susan Fleck was in court for a mental status hearing Thursday.
A mental evaluation had determined Fleck wasn't fit to stand trial. Circuit Judge Robin Green ordered Fleck committed to the Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock in November.
Fleck recently was returned to the Benton County Jail after her fitness was reported restored. Jay Saxton, chief pubic defender, said he wouldn't contest the findings, and Green ruled Fleck is fit to stand trial.
Evan Fleck was found shot in his bed after Gentry police went to the home after a 911 call at 4 a.m. March 3. Police found the couple's children in the basement, according to court documents.
Evan Fleck, 44, filed for divorce Feb. 19, according to court documents. The couple had been married since July 13, 1997.
Susan Fleck called Benton County Central Communications from Delaware County, Okla. She told a dispatcher her husband was in the bedroom, according to court documents.
Delaware County Sheriff's Office deputies found a green and black Springfield .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol with several rounds still in the magazine after they found Fleck at Twisters, a convenience store in Kansas, Okla., according to court documents.
Fleck was ordered not to have any contact with her children and her husband's family. Green revoked Fleck's communication from the jail after finding out she attempted to communicate with her children.
Saxton asked Green to allow Fleck to write letters to her parents and two other relatives. Saxton said he would review the letters to make sure there are no requests for a third party to attempt to communicate with the children.
Carrie Dobbs, deputy prosecutor, didn't object to Saxton's request. Dobbs said her main concern was about a third party attempting to contact the children or Evan Fleck's family.
Green granted Saxton's request. A pre-trial hearing is set for April 4.
NW News on 02/21/2014