MORRILTON -- A 58-year-old man accused of killing his brother in May pleaded innocent by reason of mental disease or defect in Conway County Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Robert Fryer is charged with first-degree murder, arson and abuse of a corpse in connection with the death of his brother, Jack Fryer Jr. His attorney, John Irwin of Morrilton, entered his plea before Judge Jerry Don Ramey in a hearing that Fryer, who is being held in the Conway County jail, did not attend.
Ramey set a tentative trial date for Sept. 23, and he set a pretrial hearing for Sept. 16.
Irwin has petitioned the court for a criminal-responsibility examination. A doctor or other mental health professional will evaluate Robert Fryer and tell the court whether he believes a mental disease or defect prevented Fryer from understanding the criminality of his conduct, according to court documents.
When reached by phone Wednesday, Irwin did not elaborate on the decision to seek the criminal-responsibility examination but said he thought it spoke for itself.
Jack Fryer Jr., 71, was also known by his nickname "Daddy Jack." After struggling with addiction in his own life, Jack Fryer became an advocate for those who needed a second chance. He was recognized for his charity work, which included working with prison ministries, establishing halfway houses and helping former inmates establish themselves after being released from custody.
When he was arrested May 26, Robert Fryer admitted to "causing the death of his brother" while being questioned by authorities, according to a release from the Conway County sheriff's office. Robert Fryer denied getting into an argument or physical fight with Jack Fryer Jr. before to his death, according to an arrest affidavit.
Robert Fryer hit Jack Fryer Jr. on the head with a hammer several times, the affidavit said. Robert Fryer then tried to dismember his brother's body and dragged it to a burn pile where "he maintained and provided fuel used to burn the body of Jack Fryer in the ... burn pile for at least one day," the affidavit said.
After the killing, Robert Fryer also burned several buildings and a car on his brother's property, the affidavit said. He was found by police in a North Little Rock motel May 26 after using or attempting to use several of Jack Fryer Jr.'s credit and bank cards in Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Metro on 07/02/2015