A man beat the manager at Ventris Trail's End Resort with a fireplace poker early Tuesday morning and the man and a woman with him stole a cash box, according to a preliminary report from the Benton County Sheriff's Office.
Jody Simrell, 47, of Garfield is recovering from injuries he suffered in the beating, said his mother, Jan Simrell, on Thursday. Friends and the surrounding community have pulled together to help manage the business and her son has been in and out of the office, said Jan Smirell, owner at the resort.
Authorities arrested Clayton Andrew Calhoun, 31, of Garfield and Crystal Ann Bandy, 29, of Fort Smith shortly after the attack.
Calhoun was being held in connection with aggravated assault, first-degree battery, two felony counts of theft of property and misdemeanor theft of property. His bond at the Benton County Jail was listed at $30,000.
Bandy was arrested in connection with two felony counts of theft of property, felony tampering with physical evidence, four counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and misdemeanor theft of property. She was released from the Benton County Jail on a $20,000 bond Wednesday.
Calhoun and Bandy were leaving the lodge at Ventris Trail, 9484 Simrell Drive in Garfield, when deputies arrived about 2 a.m. Tuesday, according to the report. Calhoun had a bottle of vodka in his hand and Bandy had an assortment of items in her bag that belonged to Jody Simrell.
A 911 call indicated Simrell had been beaten and abducted, according to the report. Deputies found the walls of the living quarters spattered with blood and a discarded fire poker, its handle bent and bloody, on the floor of the bedroom.
Simrell had been beaten, according to the report, and his injuries were likely caused by the metal piece.
He told deputies he remembered Calhoun hitting him and someone showering him, according to the report.
Simrell told deputies he was missing $120 in $20 bills that was donation money in his wallet. Bandy had $180 in $20 bills when she was booked into the jail.
A firearm and cash box with $1,325 and receipts from the restaurant downstairs was found on a boat Calhoun and Bandy used to get to the house, according to the report.
The restaurant at Ventris Trail's End Resort opened Thursday, as scheduled, said Jan Simrell.
Jody Simrell, who is both partial owner and manager, told her anything less would have been weakness, Jan Simrell said.
Simrell said she prays her son's voice will recover. He was beaten across the head, back and legs with the poker. His attackers broke his nose, but also hit him on the throat. A singer, songwriter and pianist, Jody Simrell is able to imitate many great voices, she said.
His recovery is coming along, she said.
"I know he will get everything back," Jan Simrell said.
Jody Simrell knew his attacker, she said. He woke as he was showered to wash off the blood. He called 911 while the couple argued in the next room about what to do with him, she said. He played dead until deputies arrived.
The donations in his wallet were for the July 4 fireworks show at the resort, Jan Simrell said. Jody is pyrotechnician for the show and loves the annual display, she said. He told her before the incident it will be the best show he's ever put on.
The fireworks will go on as planned at Ventris Trail's End Resort, Jan Simrell said.
Two salutes accompanied by the sound of bells will fire off at 2 p.m. July 4 to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. A full fireworks display will start at dark that night at the resort. The fireworks display is paid for by donations and now in its 14th year, she said.
NW News on 06/26/2015