Photo: Ashley Nicole Hendricks
One of four people charged with involvement in the late 2020 murder of Cody Stradford of Mountain Home has been jailed on new charges in Benton County.
Thirty-six-year-old Ashley Nicole Hendricks of Siloam Springs was booked into the Benton County jail Thursday.
The charges listed on the jail log are hindering apprehension or prosecution, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On the new charges, she is on a no bond hold.
Hendricks was out on bond in the Baxter County murder case when she was picked up and charged in Benton County.
She is the only one of the four suspects in the Stradford case to be out on bond. One of the conditions of the $250,000 bond is that she be required to wear an ankle monitor.
Fourteenth Judicial District Prosecutor David Ethredge said Saturday his office would be seeking to revoke Hendricks’ bond in the Baxter County murder case.
It is believed the hindering apprehension/prosecution charge is based on Hendricks allowing her ankle monitor to go dead, preventing her from being tracked.
At the current time, Hendricks is scheduled to go on trial in Baxter County later this month.
REHAB PROPOSAL MADE
During a recent court session in Baxter County, Hendricks’ attorney, Ben Burnett, asked the court to allow her to check into a residential rehab facility in Florida and to lift the requirement she wear the ankle monitor for the duration of the stay.
Burnett argued his client was not a flight risk, that she had made all of her scheduled court appearances and had family living within close proximity to the Florida rehab facility.
He told the court Hendricks would be closely supervised in the Florida facility.
Burnett said as soon as Hendricks completed rehab, she would resume wearing the ankle monitor.
JUDGE SAYS NO
Circuit Judge John Putman refused to approve the arrangements. He told Burnett that given the serious nature of the charges against Hendricks, he was not anxious to have her leave Arkansas.
The judge said he might revisit the issue if Hendricks would do her rehab at an in-state facility.
Burnett said an attempt would be made to locate an in-state facility.
MADISON COUNTY REVOCATION
The new arrest in Benton County has already caused Hendricks’ 36 months probation in a Madison County drug case to be revoked.
Hendricks was put on probation in Madison County Jan. 11.
Hendricks’ case was being handled by the Huntsville probation and parole office.
The Madison County plea was taken under provisions of Act 346, commonly known as the first offenders law.
Hendricks could be considered a first offender only because her charges in the Stradford murder have not been adjudicated.
In the Madison County case, Hendricks was originally charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms – a Class Y felony. That charge was dropped by the state according to electronic court records.
THE MURDER
Stradford’s body was found in a burned-out vehicle just off Old Arkana Road on Dec. 16, 2020. Investigators said the car appeared to have been at the location for several days before being discovered.
In addition to Hendricks, the others charged with involvement in the murder were 29-year-old Ryan Lindsey, 39-year-old Skylar Brazil and 42-year-old Allison Cunningham.
Photos: (from left) Ryan James Lindsey, Skylar Whitney Brazil and Allison June Beckham Cunningham
Lindsey and Brazil are both in prison serving time on earlier convictions. Lindsey is an inmate in the East Arkansas Max unit, and Brazil is being held at the Varner unit.
Cunningham is in the Baxter County Detention Center. Her bond is set at $1,000,000.
Prosecutors have said the death penalty is on the table for Lindsey and Cunningham.
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