Murder case involving Lockesburg man continued to February jury trial

A Lockesburg man charged with first-degree murder in the death of an eight-month-old child will return to court early next year after a continuance was granted in his case.

Edward Scott Jr., 31, appeared Aug. 12 in Sevier County Circuit Court for a pre-trial hearing. The court granted a continuance and scheduled Scott to return in January. His jury trial is now set for February.

The court also denied a motion seeking to reduce Scott’s $500,000 bond. He remains in custody at the Sevier County Jail.

Scott previously pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with the death of the infant in Lockesburg earlier this year.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified Feb. 5 of an unresponsive infant. The child was taken to Sevier County Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.

Sheriff’s investigators responded to the hospital and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. The infant was transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.

Authorities said the Arkansas State Medical Examiner later determined the child’s death was a homicide.

The Sheriff’s Office, working with special agents from the Arkansas State Police, continued the investigation and identified Scott as a suspect. He was arrested Feb. 12.

A family source previously indicated that Scott was the boyfriend of the child’s mother at the time of the incident.

Scott is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.