BENTONVILLE -- A Siloam Springs man pleaded not guilty to three felony charges in connection with a woman who was found dead in his apartment.
Austin Lance Grammer, 18, is charged with rape, abuse of corpse and tampering with physical evidence. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment before Circuit Judge Brad Karren on Monday.
About the case
Austin Lance Grammer of Siloam Springs faces from 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment if convicted of rape. The abuse of a corpse charge is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from three to 10 years, and Grammer could be sentenced to up to six years in prison if convicted of the tampering charge.
Source: Staff report
Police found Leslie Perry, 20, of Siloam Springs dead Feb. 17 at 235 Meadow Court in Siloam Springs, according to court documents.
Grammar also was arrested Feb. 17 on a manslaughter charge, but prosecutors didn't file the charge against Grammer. Cearley told Karren he anticipates he will file the charge against Grammer after toxicology reports are available.
Grammer told police Perry was his friend and he was going to ask her to be his girlfriend, according to the five-page probable cause affidavit.
Grammer told police he found Perry on Feb. 17 after he returned from work, but he later admitted he didn't get to work, according to the affidavit.
Grammer said Perry came to his apartment between 10 and 11 p.m. Feb. 16 and they slept the entire night. Grammer said he woke up around 7:45 a.m. Feb. 17. He said Perry was snoring, according to the affidavit.
Grammer said he slept until 10:45 a.m. and woke up to Perry's ringing phone, according to the affidavit. He silenced the phone and said he was unsure if Perry was breathing then. He said he went back to sleep until 2 p.m. and checked on Perry around 3 p.m., according to the affidavit. He said he "listened to her chest" and did not hear a heart beat, but didn't call 911 until more than six hours later, according to the affidavit.
Surveillance video from Gas Station III and a sales receipt show Grammer purchased sour gummy worms, condoms and an energy drink at 6:15 p.m., according to the affidavit.
He went home and cleaned for a while and finally called 911 around 9:30 p.m., according to the affidavit.
Grammer is accused of having sex with Perry when she was physically helpless and incapable of consent, according to court documents. He also is accused of physically mistreating Perry's corpse. The tampering charge relates to accusations Grammer altered, destroyed, suppressed or removed evidence, according to court documents.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. June 13. Grammar is being in the Benton County Jail held on $150,000 bond.
NW News on 04/25/2017