Washington County Judge Orders Independent Testing Of Evidence In Ingram Murder Case

Cohn

Cohn

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

— A judge has granted a request by attorneys for a capital murder defendant to independently test the state’s evidence in the case.

Rico Tavarous Cohn, 28, is charged with capital murder in the death of Nina Ingram, who was a 21-year-old college student. Ingram was found strangled inside her Sycamore Street apartment April 22, 2006. Cohn was arrested and charged after Fayetteville police reopened the case in 2012.

Attorneys for Cohn filed a motion asking Washington County Circuit Judge William Storey to issue an order for independent testing by experts hired by the defense. According to the motion, they learned last week that some evidence they see as critical to their case had never been tested at the Arkansas State Crime Lab.

Specifically, the defense wants access to any and all “tape lifts” collected by Fayetteville police during their investigation, specifically tape lifts from a jacket that belonged to Ingram.

Storey ordered Fayetteville police and the crime lab Monday to preserve the evidence and provide it to the defense for testing.

If convicted, Cohn faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Prosecuting Attorney John Threet has not decided if he’ll seek the death penalty.

Cohn is set for trial March 10. Cohn has been in jail without bond since his arrest June 6, 2012.