LITTLE ROCK — The suspect in the slaying of an elderly woman killed Friday in an attack with a box cutter at the Waldo post office ended his initial court appearance early Monday by requesting to speak with an attorney.
William Blackmon, 30, was arrested north of Waldo on Friday morning when authorities found him in a wooded area near a burning van with the body of post office janitor Betty Cooper, 72, inside.
Columbia County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Butler said Monday that during Blackmon’s forthcoming arraignment, he plans to file charges of capital murder, aggravated robbery, theft of property and arson.
Blackmon could face the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted of capital murder.
The defendant will be represented by a public defender, Butler said.
No court date has been set and bail was not discussed Monday when Blackmon appeared before Circuit Court Judge Hamilton H. Singleton.
A probable-cause affidavit said Blackmon, who lives near the post office, told investigators that he went there to take Cooper’s parked van early Friday.
Columbia County Sheriff Mike Loe said previously that Cooper typically cleaned the post office early before it opened for the day.
The affidavit said Blackmon entered the post office to find Cooper’s keys after finding her van was locked. Blackmon then attacked Cooper with a box cutter about 4 a.m., slashing her several times, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said Blackmon dragged Copper’s body across the post office parking lot to his home at 106 N. Skinner St., leaving a trail of blood. He told investigators that he placed her body behind some bushes, the affidavit said.
Blackmon’s girlfriend told investigators that he returned home wearing bloody clothes and ripped jeans at about 5:30 a.m. and woke her up, then told her to grab sheets and a gas can.
Blackmon and his girlfriend told investigators in separate interviews that Blackmon placed Cooper’s body in her van, the affidavit said.
Blackmon then forced his girlfriend into the van and drove to the Dairy Treat, 216 W. McKissack St., to buy gasoline, the affidavit said.
Meanwhile, a post office worker called authorities at 6:57 a.m. after finding a large amount of blood outside, the affidavit said.
Before heading to the woods, Blackmon drove past the post office and saw police there. The affidavit said he drove around the block, and his girlfriend jumped out of the car when Blackmon stopped at a stop sign.
She went to the post office to notify police of what happened and is not considered a suspect, authorities said.
Blackmon then drove to a wooded area north of Waldo, poured gas on the van and set it on fire, according to the affidavit.
Police found and arrested Blackmon after a witness reported seeing him on County Road 69, which is also called Bethel Road. The Waldo Fire Department extinguished the fire.
The U.S. Postal Inspector Service is leading the investigation with assistance from the FBI, Waldo police and investigators from the Arkansas State Police’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Butler said it is likely that the U.S. attorney general’s office will eventually handle the case, because the crime happened on federal property.
On Monday, Butler talked with U.S. Attorney for Western Arkansas Conner Eldridge about the possibilities of transferring the case to the U.S. District Courthouse in El Dorado, with U.S. District Judge Harry Barnes.
“In this case, it would appear to be very appropriate for the U.S. attorney general’s office to handle the case,” Butler said.
The decision to change courtrooms and prosecutors could take several weeks or months, Butler said, so he will continue trying the case until he hears otherwise.
Butler said he met with Cooper’s husband, her two children and one of her sisters Monday to go over the court process.
“I can’t imagine what the family is going through,” Butler said.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 07/26/2011