BENTONVILLE — The investigation into 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman’s death entered a fifth day Saturday as police awaited results from the state Crime Laboratory.
Police Chief Jon Simpson said Friday that he doesn’t know when results will be available, but thinks it will be as soon as is practical. The lab hadn’t sent back information Friday on the about 50 items of evidence the Police Department submitted Wednesday. The Crime Lab was closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.
Simpson had said Wednesday that he could name a suspect in Jersey’s homicide as soon as Thursday. Investigators worked Wednesday to meet holiday deadlines for evidence submission, he said. The evidence was taken from three adjacent homes on Southeast A Street — the one where Jersey lived, the house were her body was found and a mobile home that sits between the two.
Jersey was reported missing from her home at 608 SE A St. at 6:43 a.m. Tuesday. She was last seen sometime after midnight, Simpson said. Her body was found inside a vacant house at 704 SE A St. at 6:53 a.m., according to a news release.
Officers have spent the past few days interviewing family and people known to the family. Police have not publicly released much information regarding the case, saying doing so could harm the investigation.
Jersey lived with her mother, DesaRae Bridgeman, in a rental house. She was a kindergarten student at Sugar Creek Elementary School, said Mary Ley, communications director for the Bentonville School District. She celebrated her birthday just days before her death, which police have described a homicide.
Stuffed animals and balloons lined the front steps of Jersey’s home Friday. Car seats, a stroller and a dog cage were in front of the small white house.
Her uncle, Jason Bridgeman, described Jersey as a fun-loving girl.
“She was a good person,” Jason Bridgeman said. “She was a beautiful person.”
Jason Bridgeman’s brother, David Bridgeman, is Jersey’s father. He is serving an 18-year prison sentence for chaining Jersey to a dresser for three days last December. Jersey’s stepmother, Jana Slinkard, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the abuse.
Jason Bridgeman set up a fundraising site on giveforward.com to raise money for his niece’s funeral. The site was down Friday, but Bridgeman said it would be up after fixing some “technical difficulties.”
“She deserves a funeral and headstone,” he said. “It is all about the family. My brother is in jail and is unable to see her or help.”
Under state law, an immediate family member of a victim of homicide can file for compensation from the Arkansas Crime Victims Reparations Program, including up to $7,500 for funeral costs.
Vickie Price, DesaRae Bridgeman’s mother, said on her Facebook page that Jersey’s mother will use reparation money to pay for funeral expenses.
Simpson said repeatedly he thinks the public isn’t in any danger after the homicide. He said Friday he remains confident the department is on the right track with the investigation.
“I would urge parents to take every precaution that they always take,” Simpson said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re in Bentonville or New York City, take the actions that you know as a parent are reasonable. But with this investigation and what we know about it, there is no reason for public alarm.”
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 11/24/2012