A Yell County man was being held in lieu of $1 million bond Tuesday in the death of his girlfriend's 2-year-old son.
The sheriff's office announced late Monday that it earlier in the day had arrested Chase Duane Mullins, 20, of Plainview in the death of Remington Rainey, also of Plainview.
Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II of Danville did not immediately file formal charges, but Foster said the charges are expected to include first-degree murder. Another court hearing is set for Jan. 3 in Danville.
Emergency workers took the child to a hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Preliminary autopsy results indicate that Remington died from head trauma. The state medical examiner's office described the death as a homicide, Foster said.
Mullins called 911 Thursday to say the toddler was in his bedroom and was not breathing, Foster said. Mullins told authorities that he was the only adult at the home when he found the child and that the boy's mother was at work.
Foster said in a news release that investigators conducted several interviews after learning of the death and obtained a warrant to search the boy's home that night.
At the time of the child's death, Mullins was free on $1,500 bond on two felony drug charges -- possession of a controlled substance, either methamphetamine or cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia -- after being arrested in early October, court records show.
In a motion filed Monday, Mullins' public defender, Beth Wright, asked that the Yell County jail be compelled to allow her to visit with Mullins. She said that he was detained Thursday and that she arrived at the jail shortly before 5 p.m. and asked to speak with Mullins.
After about a 30-minute wait, she said, Foster called her and said the visit would be denied. She said Foster told her that the denial was upon Tatum's instruction.
"Defendant is currently being held incommunicado by the State at this time in violation of his Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel to be free from governmental interference with said right," Wright's filing said.
Contacted Tuesday, Wright declined further comment, including on whether she has since been allowed to visit Mullins.
Tatum said Tuesday that Wright does not represent Mullins at this time, though that could change. He said he could not comment further on a pending case.
State Desk on 12/05/2018