Suspect In Springdale Homicide Seeks Mental Evaluation

Perez-Lopez
Perez-Lopez

— A Springdale man charged with capital murder in the stabbing death of an auto mechanic is seeking a mental evaluation to determine if he is fit to stand trial.

Juan Pablo Perez-Lopez, 28, told police during questioning he stabbed Jesus Cecilio Villalobos about 20 times Feb. 13.

Perez-Lopez pleaded not guilty to capital murder last year in Washington County Circuit Court. The requested mental examination is likely to delay the trial set for Feb. 20.

Perez-Lopez is in the Washington County jail without bond.

Motorists called Springdale police about two men fighting on Huntsville Avenue and one of them had a knife and was riding away on a bicycle. Police found Perez-Lopez on a bicycle with a knife and bloody hands, then found Villalobos, 48, in a parking lot with multiple stab wounds to his chest and his throat cut, according to a search warrant affidavit filed in the case.

Perez-Lopez told police he went to a Walmart, stole a knife and returned to Latino Tires with the intention of stabbing Villalobos because he thought Villalobos was making fun of and taking advantage of him. Perez-Lopez said he had the knife in the pocket of his jacket.

Perez-Lopez said he stabbed Villalobos in the chest, near the heart, according to police. Villalobos fled and Perez-Lopez followed and stabbed the man two or three more times “to make him stop hurting.”

Perez-Lopez told police he then followed Villalobos across the street on his bicycle.

“Perez-Lopez stated that he stabbed Villalobos two more times in the back and Villalobos fell to the ground where he stabbed him 10 more times,” according to police. “He stated that he then put Villalobos’ hat over his face to keep others from seeing him and stabbed him five more times, stabbing him in the throat and chest to make sure he was dead.”

Capital murder is punishable by life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecutors haven’t determined if they will seek the death penalty.

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