A man accused of killing his wife and setting fire to their Little Rock home as their adopted son slept has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental defect.
Doyle Levi Ashcraft, 32, appeared Monday morning before Judge Barry Sims in Pulaski County Circuit Court for his arraignment on charges of first-degree murder and criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder.
Ashcraft, who is being represented by Little Rock attorney Willard Proctor, did not speak Monday in court.
Around 6:45 a.m. March 26, Little Rock firefighters found the body of 35-year-old Marjorie Ashcraft inside their residence on Redleaf Circle. Officers with the city’s Police Department responded about 10 minutes later.
Authorities say the woman had “several apparent stabbing injuries.”
A 14-year-old boy at the scene said he awoke to smoke in the house and tried to alert his parents but failed.
He was eventually able to break a window, leave the home and run to a neighbor’s house for help, according to court filings.
Police say Doyle Ashcraft, who arrived as authorities responded, told officers he was returning from a 5:45 a.m. trip to Walmart to run an errand for his wife, who had an “upset stomach.”
Ashcraft said that he had secured the home before he left and that neither he nor the 14-year-old killed Marjorie Ashcraft, documents show, but police noted that the statement was “inconsistent” with evidence.
The 32-year-old told police* that a military-style knife and some lighter fluid were in the garage, according to court records. An empty bottle of lighter fluid as well as a leather sheath for a knife were located inside the home, but the knife wasn't found.
No additional information was given in court Monday regarding Ashcraft’s mental health. He has an Act 3 hearing on his mental health scheduled for Sept. 17, records show.
Ashcraft’s attorney declined to comment after his Monday hearing.
Marjorie Ashcraft’s death marked the 10th homicide of the year in Arkansas’ capital city. Twenty killings have been recorded so far in 2018, according to preliminary figures.
*CORRECTION: Doyle Levi Ashcraft told police that a military-style knife and some lighter fluid were in his garage, but a knife was not found. A previous version of this story misstated what was discovered at the home.
