FAYETTEVILLE -- Washington County prosecutors have combined drug charges with the capital murder charge against a man accused of stabbing a woman to death near Tontitown last month.
Brock Atkins was scheduled to appear Friday in Washington County Circuit Court to face an unrelated charge of possessing drug paraphernalia but the case was delayed after prosecutors decided to combine the cases. Atkins was arrested on the drug paraphernalia charge in April. Both cases are now set for trial Aug. 14.
Matt Durrett, chief deputy prosecutor, said the rationale for the move is it will make it possible for all the charges against Atkins to be resolved at one time. The drug charge shouldn't be a factor in the capital murder case, Durrett said.
Atkins, 19, was arrested on the capital murder charge May 21, shortly after Leann Frazier's death. He told investigators Frazier arrived at his house with two other men in the early hours of that morning, according to an arrest report. She accused him of stealing methamphetamine and Atkins said he denied the accusation.
One of the men threatened to kill Atkins and his family if Atkins didn't kill Frazier, Atkins told investigators. Detectives believe Lewis Hedges Jr., 34, brandished a handgun and ordered Atkins to kill Frazier. Hedges suspected Frazier of being a "snitch" to the police, Atkins said.
Atkins told police Frazier fled, but he pursued, scratched her face and threw a chunk of wood at her. He said he tackled her and stabbed her in the throat "until she stopped making any noises," according to the report.
Other evidence recovered at the scene matched Atkins' story, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Atkins is being held in the Washington County jail without bond.
Hedges earlier pleaded not guilty to being an accomplice to capital murder and was given an Aug. 14 trial date. He also is being held at the Washington County Jail without bond.
If convicted of the capital murder charges, Atkins and Hedges face either life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. Durrett said he hasn't decided whether to seek the death penalty against Atkins or Hedges.
NW News on 06/28/2014