Emmet Man Formally Charged With Capital Murder, Capital Rape in Death of 4-Year-Old Girl
An Emmet man has been formally charged with capital murder and capital rape in connection with the death of a 4-year-old girl, while court records show he was released on his own recognizance in a separate firearms case about six weeks before the child was injured.
Eighth North Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hale filed the charges Monday October 26th against James Richard Ivey, 33. Both charges carry potential penalties of death or life imprisonment without parole.
According to investigators, an ambulance transported the girl from her Emmet home to the emergency room in Hope on the evening of Aug. 26 after the incident was initially reported as a drowning.
Investigators with the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office and agents with Arkansas State Police later determined the child had suffered severe abuse, including bruising, cuts and electrical burns.
The girl died Aug. 30 at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
Mother Also Arrested
The child’s mother, Tiffany Edwards, 28, was arrested Sept. 1. The sheriff’s office charged her with capital murder, kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a minor and domestic battery.
As of Monday evening, formal charges against Edwards had not been filed in circuit court, according to the information provided.
Ivey and Edwards remain in the Hempstead County jail. Ivey’s bond is set at $14 million, while Edwards’ bond is $4 million. Both individuals were scheduled to appear in court yesterday.
Previous Firearms Case
Court records indicate Ivey was involved in a separate firearms case earlier this year.
In March, a Nevada County deputy reported that Ivey pointed a gun at a neighbor’s family, including three young children, as they were leaving their driveway.
Ivey was jailed July 15 on a warrant related to that case and released on his own recognizance the following day.
He also previously served prison time in 2019 following a probation revocation and a guilty plea to illegally possessing a firearm.
The capital charges in the girl’s death mark a significant development in the case as it moves through the court system. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.