Investigation of Bentonville girl's death continues

Mike Bridgeman, left, uncle of Jersey Bridgeman, kisses Laurie Caancan on the top of the head Tuesday during a candlelight vigil at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County’s Memory Garden in Little Flock.
Mike Bridgeman, left, uncle of Jersey Bridgeman, kisses Laurie Caancan on the top of the head Tuesday during a candlelight vigil at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County’s Memory Garden in Little Flock.

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A homicide investigation in the death of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman entered its second day Wednesday.

Police were at the girl's home at 608 S.E. A St. in Bentonville overnight and had served a search warrant by Wednesday morning. Bridgeman was reported missing from the home at 6:48 a.m. Tuesday. Her body was found shortly after at 704 S.E. A St., two houses south of her home.

At least one man who identified himself as an FBI agent was at the scene Wednesday.

Two Bentonville Police Department detectives were knocking on the door of a house and mobile home at the scene Wednesday morning, but nobody answered.

Jersey was a kindergartner at Sugar Creek Elementary School, said Bentonville School District spokesman Mary Ley.

Superintendent Michael Poore said parents were not notified Tuesday about the death.

Tuesday was the last day students attended school before Thanksgiving break. They will return Monday.

Parents weren't told because Jersey’s name had yet to be released by the time school ended Tuesday, Poore said.

Poore said district officials would meet Saturday to discuss how to help students on Monday.

Ley said how the district will respond will be determined as more facts about the case are released.

An e-mail could be sent to parents of Sugar Creek Elementary students during the Thanksgiving break, Poore said.

Counselors were on site Tuesday to help teachers and administrators.

“We grieve with that family, and hopefully we will be there to provide support as they need it,” Poore said.

Poore said he has spoken with Jersey’s kindergarten teacher, principal and assistant principals.

“The thing about this girl was that she had a huge heart and seemed to be a kid that wanted to make people happy,” Poore said. “Always a smile.”

Police are continuing to investigate. They have not released a cause of death or other details of the investigation. The girl's body was sent to the State Crime Laboratory for an autopsy.

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