BENTONVILLE -- Proceedings were suspended Thursday for one of the suspects accused of killing 62-year-old Springdale resident Edward Abel.
James Michael Smith, 48, of Springdale, and John Armando Guerra, 55, of Duson, La., face capital murder and aggravated robbery charges in connection with Abel's death.
Smith's attorneys requested a mental evaluation for him when both men appeared in court Thursday.
Circuit Judge Brad Karren granted the request and suspended proceedings pending the outcome of the evaluation at Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock. A mental status hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. Aug. 14.
Guerra's hearing was reset. His new new court date is May 1.
Abel was stabbed to death and pronounced dead Aug. 16 at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale. Abel lived in the portion of Springdale in Benton County.
Springdale police were called at 11:15 p.m. Aug. 16 to Abel's home on East Brown Road. A woman reported Abel left a message on her voice mail, according to court documents. The woman could hear Abel pleading with people who demanded to know where he kept his safe, and Abel could also be heard telling someone to take his wallet because that was all he had, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Police found Abel on his kitchen floor.
Three people have been arrested in connection a stolen safe containing gold and silver coins. The safe was taken off Abel's porch in 2012.
Pamela Jerrold, 48, of Springdale, John Adams, 32, of Springdale, and Sydney Adams, 31 , of Duncan, Okla., have been arrested on theft-related charges involving the stolen coins.
John Adams recently wrote a letter to Northwest Arkansas Newspapers proclaiming he and his wife's innocence.
Smith, Guerra, Jerrold and the Adamses have all pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges they face. They are all being held in the Benton County Jail.
NW News on 03/14/2014