Two Face Witness Tampering Charges in Murder Case

JONESBORO, Ark. – Two people already in jail now face additional legal hurdles after being accused of tampering with a witness in a murder case.

Bennie Ross, 48, was already in Craighead County Detention Center awaiting trial for murder. Ross is accused of the murder of his wife, Susan Michelle Ross, on January 27, 2023. He has remained incarcerated since then on a $3 million cash/surety bond as he awaits trial.

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The latest probable cause affidavit states that on July 28, 2024, Ross used the telephone inside cell block M1 to call his brother, Kenneth Curtis. During the recorded call, Ross can allegedly be heard attempting to persuade his brother not to provide all of his information regarding Ross’ pending murder charge. Detective David Bailey wrote that Ross told Curtis the prosecutors will try to twist his words around and that both Curtis and his wife do not need to talk to them. He asked them to say they don’t remember.

During the call, Ross states he doesn’t remember going to his brother’s house on the night of the murder but does remember speaking with someone on the phone. It is not known by this reporter if the context of this statement relates to the testimony discussed on the call.

At one point, Ross allowed another inmate, Edward Huff, 53, of Clarksville, TN, to get on the phone with Curtis. The affidavit states Huff told Curtis he does not have to testify, and can plead the Fifth Amendment instead.

Authorities reviewed footage from inside the cell block, along with the recorded phone call.

Ross and Huff both appeared by video in court for their latest probable cause hearings on Wednesday, July 31, 2024. Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge both with tampering with a witness, a class D felony punishable by up to six years in prison. A $25,000 cash-only bond was set for both, adding to the significant bonds each already had set for their release. No contact orders were also put into place by the judge.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.