NEWPORT — A Jackson County man who told police he shot his nephew and his nephew’s wife several times in their heads last week will face murder charges, Third Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Henry Boyce said.
Boyce of Newport said he has not decided whether to charge Gary Paul Henley, 41, of Weldon with two counts first-degree murder or capital murder. He would not comment on the case.
Henley told police that he had been attacked by his nephew and the nephew’s wife at his Madison Street home in Weldon, a south Jackson county town, at 10 p.m. Sept. 21.
Steven Lynn Bridgman, 45, and Ida Bridgman, 48, both of Weldon, were found shot to death in Henley’s home.
Henley told Sheriff David Lucas both attacked him with knives. Henley was treated at Harris Hospital in Newport and released that night.
Jackson County sheriff’s investigator Ricky Morales said in an arrest affidavit that Henley shot Lynn Bridgman four times in the head. Henley also admitted to shooting Ida Bridgman five times in the head, the affidavit said.
Henley told Morales he shot Lynn Bridgman in the stomach with a .22 caliber pistol and heard Ida Bridgman moving in a bathroom. He said he then returned to Lynn Bridgman and shot him in the head when “he saw him moving,” Morales said in the affidavit.
Henley went back into the bathroom and shot Ida Bridgman in the head with a .45 caliber pistol, Morales said.
Boyce said he is awaiting completion of the investigation before he files charges.
Henley is held in the Jackson County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond set by Jackson County District Judge Barbara Griffin.
Arkansas, Pages 16 on 09/28/2010