BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man jailed on drug charges was arrested Thursday in connection with the killing of a 53-year-old Garfield man.
Cody Wise, 26, was arrested in connection with capital murder Sept. 4, according to a Benton County Sheriff's Office news release.
Ronnie Kultgen's body was found Aug. 29 in Madison County, according to the release. Kultgen, having last been seen April 15, was missing for four months before his body was found. His body was identified through medical records, according to information from the Sheriff's Office.
Benton County detectives received information from three people that Wise murdered Kultgen, according to court documents. An investigation found Wise picked up Kultgen in Garfield and drove him to Clifty, where Wise shot Kultgen in the head and then pushed his body into a sinkhole, according to court documents.
A witness later came forward and reported being present at the murder. The witness claimed one reason Wise killed Kultgen was Wise believed that Kultgen stole $2,000 from him, according to court documents.
"I am gratified that the hard work of the Benton County Sheriff's Office led to an arrest in this case," said Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecutor. "During the course of the investigation, it became clear that the crime occurred in Madison County, outside of my jurisdiction. I contacted Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett when I learned of this jurisdictional issue."
Durrett's office will handle the prosecution since the crime occurred in the 4th Judicial Circuit Court District that consists of Madison and Washington counties.
Witness statements have Kultgen being shot and killed near the location where his body was found,Durrett said.
Prosecutors haven't filed a formal murder charge against Wise, Durrett said. Durrett expects Wise to have an arraignment Oct. 6.
Wise already was in the Benton County Jail on drug charges. He was being held on a $160,000 bond when he was arrested in the homicide.
He's charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, two counts of possession of firearms by certain persons, possession of a controlled substance and two counts of drug paraphernalia.
Filings in Wise's Benton County case indicate in February a person told the Rogers Police Department that Wise had $40,000 in methamphetamine in his possession.
Police connected Wise's home to drug activity and the home was searched April 7, according to court documents. Police found two pistols, a small amount of methamphetamine and items with methamphetamine residue, according to court documents. He was arrested May 7 in connection with the drug offenses.
NW News on 09/11/2015