All charges against a Springdale man police accused of killing a college student in 2006 were dropped Wednesday morning after a key witness died earlier this year, Washington County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett said.
Rico Tavarous Cohn, 29, was arrested in 2012 in connection with the death of Nina Ingram, a 21-year-old student who was found strangled inside her Sycamore Street apartment. Cohn was arrested and charged after Fayetteville police reopened the case.
The key witness for the prosecution died unexpectedly after a surgery earlier this year, Durrett said. Durrett would not release the witness’s name Wednesday, citing privacy laws.
After evaluating the evidence, Durrett decided it was insufficient to go to trial, which had been set for Aug. 20. Charges can be refiled against Cohn for up to a year, if new evidence surfaces, Durrett said.
Cohn was in jail about three years as attorneys tested evidence, Durrett said. He was released from the Washington County jail at 9:38 a.m. Wednesday.
