Murder suspect attacked in cell, his attorney says

CONWAY -- One of four teenagers charged in the murders of a Conway couple was attacked by his five cellmates in the Faulkner County jail unit where he was transferred after turning 18 last month, his attorney said in a newly filed court document.

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Hunter Drexler's attorney, Patrick Benca, asked that bail be set for his client and said he was making "a more immediate request for a hearing" because of "ongoing circumstances."

Drexler of Clinton is jailed without bail because of the charges against him -- two counts of capital murder and other felonies in the July 21 shooting deaths of Robert and Patricia Cogdell, both 66.

Sheriff Matt Rice said Thursday that it was his understanding that Drexler's injuries did not require hospitalization.

Also charged with capital murder is Justin Staton, a 14-year-old boy the Cogdells had been raising. Two other youths, Anastasia Roberts of Conway and Connor Atchley of Greenbrier, are charged with first-degree murder in the case. Roberts and Atchley are 17.

Since being moved to the adult section of the jail, Drexler "has been continually harassed by other inmates," Benca wrote in a motion filed Wednesday and placed online Thursday. "He has been threatened, his commissary and other belongings have been stolen."

About six days ago "every single one of" Drexler's five cellmates attacked him to get his commissary items and phone cards, Benca wrote.

"Counsel nor Drexler's family was notified of this attack," Benca wrote. "Instead, Drexler was placed on [20] days segregation with a suspension of all of his privileges, including the ability to make phone calls to his family."

During a visit Monday evening, Benca said, he learned of the "unprovoked attack."

"Drexler had a swollen face, a significant black eye and several other injuries," Benca said. "Counsel has requested the video tapes and all other documents related to this incident and will present them at the time of the hearing."

Rice said that he understood "there was some type of altercation over some commissary stuff in the cell. He [Drexler] was involved in it."

A criminal investigation of the altercation is underway, Rice said. The sheriff said he didn't want to comment on details such as who was at fault until he had all of the facts from that review.

Rice said he had not yet seen the video Benca mentioned.

"Just like any investigation, we're going to separate the parties ... then determine who needs to be charged," Rice said.

Drexler's next pretrial hearing is set for Oct. 22, unless Circuit Judge Troy Braswell reschedules it for an earlier date.

Also this week, Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland's office filed a motion in each teenager's case, asking that the four be required to "submit to a physical examination for the purpose of obtaining two oral swab samples."

The motion said authorities had found unidentified DNA and did not elaborate on the nature of the material nor where it was discovered at the crime scene -- the Cogdells' home and adjacent property. The motion asked that the swab samples or a blood sample be ordered.

Drexler and Staton were charged as adults in August with two counts each of capital murder, aggravated robbery, theft of property by threat, and abuse of a corpse. Both have pleaded innocent.

Roberts and Atchley were charged as adults in September with two counts each of first-degree murder and felony theft by receiving. They are scheduled to enter pleas Tuesday.

The Cogdells had been Staton's legal guardians since 2010. Authorities have said the killings were aimed at stealing the couple's money and credit cards.

State Desk on 10/09/2015

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