5:30 P.M. UPDATE:
JONESBORO — A northeast Arkansas man has been sentenced to life in prison for the death of a 90-year-old woman.
A Craighead County jury on Friday sentenced 31-year-old Jordan Tarver of Bay to three life terms, plus 22 years, after finding him guilty earlier in the day of capital murder, kidnapping, aggravated residential burglary, abuse of a corpse, theft of property and possession of a defaced firearm in the July 3, 2015, death of Lavinda Counce of Bay.
- The Associated Press
EARLIER:
An Arkansas man who told police he was preparing for a zombie apocalypse when he killed a 90-year-old woman last year has been found guilty.
Richard Tarver will be sentenced Friday afternoon in the July 3, 2015, killing of Lavinda Counce.
The jury returned for a second day of deliberations in Craighead County Circuit Court before returning with its decision Friday morning. Tarver was found guilty of capital murder, kidnapping, aggravated residential burglary, abuse of a corpse, theft of property and possession of a defaced firearm.
Tarver confessed to the shooting when arrested July 17, 2015, and prosecutors played a 59-minute video of his confession during the trial. In it, Tarver said he had watched multiple episodes of the television program The Walking Dead the evening before the killing and wanted to prepare for a zombie apocalypse by learning what it felt like to shoot someone.
Randel Miller, a Jonesboro attorney defending Tarver, said Tarver concocted the confession because investigators threatened to arrest his wife and take away his children if he didn't admit to killing Counce.
The verdicts Friday came a short time after Circuit Judge Cindy Thyer admonished the jurors, telling them that profanity and threats were not tolerated.
Jurors deliberated for 10 hours Thursday before continuing Friday morning. Thyer told jurors they had to "maintain civility" and could not "abuse exhibits."
Two female jurors were crying when the jury was warned.
Read Saturday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
