Police: Man tied cinder block to Arkansas woman, threw her in river

Ex-beau charged with kidnapping

An Iowa man faces attempted murder and kidnapping charges after Sharp County authorities said he tied a cinder block to his ex-girlfriend and threw her into the Spring River.

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Jerry Dean Clark, 45, of Glenwood, Iowa, is being held in the Sharp County jail in Ash Flat in lieu of a $250,000 bond, said Sharp County sheriff's detective Jimmy Bennett. He will face formal charges May 12 in Sharp County Circuit Court.

According to Bennett's arrest affidavit, Clark abducted Kathryn Lynn Jones, 44, of Hardy at the Days Inn Hotel where she was staying April 20.

Clark drove Jones to Griffin Park in Cherokee Village and began hitting her and saying, "I'm going to teach you a lesson," Bennett said in the affidavit. He then took her to a liquor store in Hardy, bought beer and then returned to the park where Clark told Jones to blow up an inflatable mattress and help pitch a tent.

Bennett said Clark tied a rope around Jones to restrain her.

Jones told the detective that Clark then tied a cinder block to the rope and threw Jones in the river. Jones was able to crawl out of the river after being submerged, the detective said.

"The river was deep," Bennett said. "You could see where she dragged the block out. She had grit and gravel in her ears and she was soaking wet."

Clark then tied Jones to a tree with plastic zip ties, Bennett said.

"You have earned the right to stay alive, but not to be free, yet," Clark told Jones, Bennett said.

He hit her with his fists and a bottle, Bennett said.

Jones told police she chewed through the binds that held her wrists and jumped back into the Spring River to flee from Clark. She floated downstream about 2 miles before she crawled ashore and found a residence where she could call for medical attention, Bennett said.

"She was beat up pretty severely," Bennett said.

Jones had bruises on her face and body and scratches on her arm, he said.

Jones was transported by medical personnel to White River Medical Center in Batesville where physicians treated her for bruising and bleeding on the brain, Bennett said.

Izard County deputies stopped Clark at 2:19 a.m. April 22 while he was driving in Violet Hill, and he was originally charged with driving while intoxicated. Deputies noticed several blood stains on Clark's pants. Later, authorities photographed a boot print at the scene that matched the tread pattern of the boots Clark was wearing when arrested. Jones' clothing was in his truck, Bennett said.

Bennett said the assault occurred after Clark tried to resume their relationship and Jones refused. She told police she was afraid of him.

State Desk on 05/04/2016

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