BENTONVILLE -- Police said Friday they had a warrant to arrest Michael Eugene Conklin in connection with his grandmother's murder.
Nathan Smith, Benton County deputy prosecutor, confirmed late Friday evening Conklin had been arrested in Saline County.
Legal Lingo
Murder Charge
First-degree murder, a Class Y felony, is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 40 years, or life imprisonment.
Source: Staff Report
Police Chief Jon Simpson confirmed the warrant for Conklin's arrest was in connection with first-degree murder.
Nelma Darline Conklin, 76, was found dead Sunday in her Bentonville home.
Conklin's body was sent to the State Crime Laboratory, and preliminary results of the autopsy indicated the manner of death was homicide, Simpson said.
Police aren't releasing Conklin's cause of death.
Officers went to Conklin's home at 3300 S.W. Elm Manor Ave. for a welfare check after they received a telephone call concerning Conklin.
Conklin, 76, hadn't been at work for about a week. Police found her body when they went to the home to check on her, according to a news release.
Detectives learned Conklin's grandson, Michael Conklin, lived with her.
Conklin, 26, was once ordered to have no contact with his mother after she reported he threatened her and she sought an order of protection.
Conklin's mother filed for the order Feb. 2, 2010, in Saline County Circuit Court, according to court documents.
His mother said in the petition he told her he would hurt her.
"He also told me that he knew where I was staying at, he would burn it down with me in it," she stated in the request for the protection order.
Conklin's mother also said her son was using drugs.
A judge granted a temporary order of protection, but the case was dismissed March 1, 2010, when Michael Conklin's mother asked for the dismissal.
Conklin didn't have any past or current criminal cases in circuit courts in Benton, Washington and Saline counties. He also didn't have any cases in Bentonville District Court.
Smith said he had no idea when Conklin's bond hearing would be or when he could be returned to Benton County.
The last murder in Bentonville was in 2012.
Jersey Bridgeman, 6, was killed Nov. 6, 2012. Her body was found in an abandoned house.
Zachary Holly was arrested in connection with the child's rape and murder. Jury selection in Holly's case is scheduled to begin Nov. 1. Prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the case.
NW News on 07/26/2014