FAYETTEVILLE -- A jury of six men and six women have been selected to determine the fate of Mark Edward Chumley in his murder trial, which begins this afternoon in Washington County Circuit Court.
The state is seeking the death penalty against Chumley, 48.
Chumley is charged with accomplice to capital murder in the killing of Victoria Annabeth Davis on Aug. 19, 2015. Police said Davis, 24, was held captive at her house at 433 S. Hill Ave. for hours and beaten by her husband, John Davis, and four other defendants, including Chumley.
Chumley rejected a plea deal of life in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to first-degree murder just after jury selection was completed. Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor asked Chumley if he understood that rejecting the offer means the death penalty is in play.
"Yes, M'am, I understand," Chumley said.
Three alternate jurors were also selected, two women and one man.
Davis, 30, pleaded guilty in December to being an accomplice to first-degree murder. Davis was sentenced to 37 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.
The other defendants include Rebecca Lee Lloyd, 39, and Christopher Lee Treat and Desire Amber Treat, both 32. All are charged with accomplice to capital murder and are being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center.
NW News on 05/03/2018
