One of the four suspects in the 2020 murder of Cody Stradford appeared in Baxter County Circuit Court Monday concerning the revocation of her $250,000 bond.
Circuit Judge John Putman said he would not set a new bond for 36-year-old Ashley Nicole Hendricks of Siloam Springs given recent events.
NEW CHARGES
Hendricks was booked into the Benton County jail Mar. 10 on charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to information from both the Benton County Sheriff’s office and the Siloam Springs Police Department, Hendricks basically invited her latest arrest.
She is reported to have signed a form to have a person paroled to her address.
A probation/parole officer went to Hendricks’ address along South Mt. Olive Street in Siloam Springs to determine if the residence met requirements for a parolee to live there.
The officer found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the house.
Other suspected drugs were located along with an Oklahoma license plate reported stolen by the Vinita, Oklahoma Police Department.
PAROLE VIOLATOR FOUND IN ATTIC
In addition, a parole violator, 29-year-old Joshua King, was found hiding in the attic of Hendricks’ residence. He was reported to have buried himself underneath insulation.
Another male at the residence was found to have an active warrant for his arrest. When he was searched, he also is reported to have had drugs and drug paraphernalia on his person.
King, Hendricks and the second male were all booked into the Benton County jail.
At the time of the Benton County arrest, Hendricks was free on the $250,000 bond in the Baxter County murder case.
The Benton County arrest also resulted in a petition being filed to revoke her 36-month probation in the Madison County drug case.
MADISON COUNTY REVOCATION
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.
Hendricks is the only one of the four suspects in the Stradford case to be out on bond. One of the conditions of her bond is that she be required to wear an ankle monitor.
It was reported that Hendricks had allowed her ankle monitor to go dead, preventing her from being tracked – a violation of the conditions of her bond.
REHAB PROPOSAL MADE
Before the new charges were filed in Benton County, Hendricks’ attorney, Ben Burnett, asked Baxter County Circuit Court Judge John Putman 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 that 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.
JUDGE SAYS NO
Judge Putman refused to approve the out-of-state rehab arrangements. He told Burnett that given the serious nature of the charges against Hendricks, he was not anxious to have her leave Arkansas.
On Monday, Burnett again asked Judge Putman to set a new bond for Hendricks and repeated that Hendricks planned to go to a rehab facility.
Prosecutor David Ethredge said the state strongly objected to setting any bond for Hendricks because of her track record.
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.
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 one million dollars.
Prosecutors have said the death penalty is on the table for Lindsey and Cunningham.
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