Bentonville Man Accused Of Killing His Grandmother

BENTONVILLE -- Family members were shocked to learn that Nelma Darline Conklin had been found murdered. They also were stunned to learn that the suspect is her grandson.

"She loved her grandkids," said Randy Dozier, Conklin's son-in-law. "She would do anything for them."

Dozier and other family members watched a bond hearing Monday for Michael Eugene Conklin, who is accused of killing his grandmother in her Bentonville home. Circuit Judge Brad Karren ordered Michael Conklin to be held without bond in the county jail.

The cause of death was determined to be stab wounds to the neck, a heavily redacted probable cause affidavit states.

Nelma Conklin, 76, was found dead in the garage of her home at 3300 S.W. Elm Manor Ave. on July 20, according to court documents. Her body was concealed by trash bags and pieces of cardboard, the affidavit states.

Michael Conklin, 26, had lived with his grandmother for the past five or six months, Dozier said. Michael Conklin had been involved in an automobile wreck and his grandmother helped care for him, Dozier said.

"He had difficulty walking and she helped him," Dozier said. "She was just being a grandma."

Michael Conklin was arrested in Saline County on Friday. A caller reported Michael Conklin's whereabouts. That information led to his arrest, Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson said.

Nathan Smith, deputy prosecutor, told Karren that police obtained an arrest warrant for first-degree murder. Smith says he expects Michael Conklin to be charged with capital murder. Michael Conklin also was arrested in connection with theft of property.

Police went to Nelma Conklin's home to do a welfare check on July 20. She had not been to work at the Walmart Supercenter on Pleasant Grove Road in Rogers since July 14, according to court documents. A co-worker called police after she called and went by the home, according to court documents.

Police believe she was killed July 14, according to the affidavit.

Police interviewed Nelma Conklin's family members and co-workers and learned that she and her grandson had not been getting along recently, according to affidavit.

Police found Nelma Conklin's coin purse on the kitchen counter. The purse contained her driver's license, a debit card, along with miscellaneous papers and receipts, according to court documents.

Cindy Dozier told police that her mother commonly carried $200 to $300 in her purse, according to court documents. Her vehicle also was missing. It was recovered in Saline County.

Randy Dozier said his mother-in-law was a good, hardworking woman.

She had worked for Walmart for several years. She was supposed to retire at the end of this year, he said. Family members had planned go on vacation with her to celebrate her retirement, Randy Dozier said.