Judge orders three suspects in man's death held without bond

David Arthur Adair Jr., (from top left) Mark Brannon, Zachary David Whitcomb and Lydia Elaine Riggs
David Arthur Adair Jr., (from top left) Mark Brannon, Zachary David Whitcomb and Lydia Elaine Riggs

BENTONVILLE -- A circuit judge ordered three people suspected of killing a man held without bond in the Benton County Jail.

Judge Brad Karren held bond hearings Friday for four people arrested in connection with the death of Lavante Jackson, 23.

Zackary David Whitcomb, 19, of 16205 Sycamore Lane in Rogers; David Arthur Adair Jr., 26, of 716 W. Maple St. in Rogers; and Lydia Elaine Riggs, 31, of 17614 Arkansas 170 in West Fork were arrested in connection with capital murder. Mark Andrew Brannan, 31, of 523 W. Wilson St. in Fayetteville was arrested in connection with abuse of corpse and hindering and apprehension.

Prosecutors haven't filed formal charges against any of them. Their arraignments are set for April 13.

Jackson's body was found Monday on the side of Van Hollow Road near Beaver Lake.

Karren found sufficient probable cause to hold Whitcomb, Adair and Riggs without bond.

Bryan Sexton, deputy prosecutor, requested Adair be held without bond in part because he was charged last year with battery and possession of a firearm by certain person. He's accused of shooting a man in the foot. He had been free on bond.

Adair's attorney, Scott Parks, said Adair has lived in the area his entire life and has a history of working as an electrician.

The judge revoked Adair's $35,000 bond in the previous case and ordered him held without bond in both cases.

Sexton asked Karren to set Riggs' bond at $750,000 or order her held without bond.

Riggs' lawyer, Lee Warden, said Riggs lives in the area and her involvement was less than the other suspects.

Karren read from a portion of Riggs' probable cause affidavit saying Riggs tied up Jackson with a rope and belt. Karren ordered she be held without bond. The affidavit hasn't been released to the public.

Sexton recommended Whitcomb be held without bond. Sexton said Whitcomb participated extensively in the crime and has three failure to appear citations in his history.

Warden described Whitcomb as youthful and said he lives in the area. Karren ordered him held without bond and said the likelihood of conviction is high.

Sexton asked for Brannan's bond to be $200,000.

Brannan's attorney, Sam Hall, said there's no evidence he knew of or was connected to the murder.

Sexton said Brannan knew the body was in the back of the vehicle and why the parties were driving to the area where Jackson's body was found.

The judge set Brannan's bond at $50,000 and ordered him to wear an ankle monitor as a condition of his bond. The judge told Brannan he can only go to work or meet with his lawyers.

Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway said Thursday that Brannan had been arrested in connection with capital murder. Sexton said Friday prosecutors reviewed the evidence and believe the abuse, tampering and hindering charges are more appropriate for Brannan.

Holloway said Thursday it's believed Jackson was killed in the Beaver Shores area near the Arkansas 12 bridge, which is 7 or 8 miles from where the body was found.

Jackson's body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for an autopsy.

The Sheriff's Office didn't yet know how Jackson was killed, but Holloway said authorities believe a struggle was involved. Holloway said drugs are suspected to be a part of the crime. Holloway described it as a "hideous crime."

NW News on 02/29/2020

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