BENTONVILLE — A suspect in the death of a 6-yearold girl whose father chained her to a dresser last year will be named soon, possibly as early as today, Bentonville Police Chief Jon Simpson said Wednesday.
“I feel confident that we have the resources that we need, that we’ve taken the steps that we needed to take as quickly as possible,” Simpson said. “The answers to all of our questions are within reach.”
Jersey Bridgeman was reported missing from her home at 608 S.E. A St. at 6:43 a.m. Tuesday. Police found her body in a vacant house two doors south just 10 minutes later.
Her body was taken Tuesday to the state medical examiner’s office in Little Rock.
Police have not released a cause of death or other details of the investigation.
While the Police Department has not made an arrest in the case, Simpson said there is no cause for public alarm. The department has a “very good handle” on the case and doesn’t consider there to be a public-safety issue, he said.
The department is still conducting interviews and examining leads with help from the FBI and other lawenforcement agencies.
Police officers took more than 50 items of evidence from the three residences they searched at 608 S.E. A St., 702 S.E. A St. and 704 S.E. A St. Some of those items have been delivered to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock.
“This investigation is currently ongoing and active and will continue without pause until its completion,” a news release stated.
David Bridgeman, Jersey’sfather, was sentenced in June to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to false imprisonment, permitting abuse of a minor and endangering the welfare of a minor.
He and his wife, Jana, were arrested Dec. 2 of last year. A woman who was staying with the couple awoke to the cries of a child and found Jersey bound to a dresser by a chain and a loop made from a belt. The couple was not at home at the time, and the woman unfastened the child.
In court, David Bridgeman said he chained Jersey for her own safety because she sleepwalked and had once gotten into some chemicals and knives in the kitchen.
Jana Bridgeman pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with 10 years suspended if she does not commit another crime after she is released.
Jersey was a kindergarten student at Sugar Creek Elementary School, said Mary Ley, Bentonville School District communication director.
Superintendent Michael Poore said district officials will meet Saturday to discuss how to help students when they return to class Monday.
“We grieve with that family, and hopefully we will be there to provide support as they need it,” Poore said of the students.
“The thing about this girl was that she had a huge heart and seemed to be a kid that wanted to make people happy,” he said. “Always a smile.” Information for this article was contributed by Misty Gittings, Teresa Moss and Tracy Neal of NWA Media.
Arkansas, Pages 22 on 11/22/2012