UPDATE: Murder Charge Dropped Against Jonesboro Man After Medical Examiner Report

JONESBORO, Ark. — The discovery of a deceased male outside of a residence led to the arrest of a man on a homicide charge Wednesday in Jonesboro. On Friday, the homicide charge was dropped and the man was released from jail.

It began when the Jonesboro Police Department received a report of a deceased 52-year-old male that was found outside of a residence in the 6700 block of Highland Drive on Wednesday, according to JPD Public Information Specialist Sally Smith. Police referred to it as a “suspicious death” in a news release. A reader notified NEA Report of a heavy police presence with crime scene tape and numerous officers.

A person of interest connected to this suspicious death was taken into custody Wednesday, JPD said in the release posted to social media. It was later revealed Anthony David Barnes, 63, of Jonesboro, was arrested for second-degree murder.

The incident report released on Thursday states that Barnes was friends with the victim, Brian Glen Presley, 52, of Jonesboro. Police believe the two got into an argument. Presley sustained severe lacerations, internal injuries, and other major injuries, the visible portion of the police report said. However, more specific information was masked.

The body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab.

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Friday, Dec. 20 (Bond Hearing)

Barnes appeared in court on Friday before Judge Tommy Fowler, who found probable cause to charge him with second-degree murder a Class A felony. During the bail hearing, Barnes interrupted the judge to request release on an own recognizance (OR) bond.

“That’s not happening today, Mr. Barnes,” the judge said.

A $500,000 cash or surety bond requirement was set.

Barnes was also denied a public defender, due to the value of the house. He said he did not have the money to hire a lawyer, although the judge noted the disparity between cash and home equity. Barnes became more angry with the judge, again asking if he could make a statement. The judge read him his rights, noting his right to remain silent. Barnes was undeterred.

“If somebody dies on your property, does that give you the right to put them in jail?” Barnes asked. The judge said it was not his job to provide legal advice.

Barnes responded that he was trying to get some help. He said he had not done anything wrong.

The probable cause affidavit states on Dec. 18, JPD responded to a call from a male who said he found his friend dead in the carport. Officers found the victim lying naked on the concrete, covered in injuries that appeared to have been caused by being hit or thrown from a vehicle. Officers noted road rash on the body.

The suspect, Barnes, told police they had been at the house that night and he was pointing the cabinets when the victim said he was going home around 3 a.m. and left. Barnes said no one else was at the house but those two. The suspect later disclosed he had gotten into a fight with the victim while he was naked and began punching him in the face. Barnes said he then dragged the victim out of the house and down the stairs outside the door into the carport.

Barnes told police the victim stood outside yelling so he went back out to confront him again. Barnes said the victim swung at him so he hit him again, knocking him down. Barnes claimed the victim began thrashing around on the carport and into a concrete ditch beside the carport. He dragged the victim back into the carport but said the thrashing continued. He dragged him back four or five times.

The affidavit says Barnes stated he called a friend that morning and told him he found his friend in the carport. He said he didn’t think he was breathing. The friend he spoke to confirmed this to police, adding that he told Barnes to call 911. The affidavit alleges Barnes waited 50 minutes to call 911 about the victim being dead.

After interviewing Barnes, police said the injuries caused to the victim were inconsistent with the story that he gave. Barnes was arrested for second-degree murder.

Suspect Released

Shortly after the bond hearing on Friday, the Craighead County jail roster webpage showed Barnes had been released. His bond was also no longer showing up. NEA Report reached out to Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Henry for more information.

According to the prosecutor, once the probable cause hearings were done, she spoke to the Arkansas State Crime Lab’s medical examiner. The forensic pathologist could not rule the case a homicide.

Henry said no anatomical findings were made that could be used to rule it a homicide. While the suspect had trauma on his body, the medical examiner determined it to be superficial. The visible injuries were not the cause of death, Henry said.

The prosecutor was hesitant to speculate as to what may have been the cause of death out of sensitivity to the family. Investigators are now waiting for additional testing results, including toxicology reports.

Both the prosecutor and police did not feel like they had enough evidence to charge Barnes at this time. However, Henry noted Barnes admitted to stomping the deceased male. She said the officers had “more than sufficient probable cause” for the arrest.

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