A jury trial began Tuesday morning in Eureka Springs for the first of three defendants accused in the 2018 killing of a local man trial.
Jason Hartley Helm is charged with first-degree murder and cruelty to animals in connection with the death of Chris Alvard, whose body was found in his home near Eureka Springs. The body of Alvard’s dog also was found at the scene.
Helm’s trial is scheduled for four days in Carroll County Circuit Court, with Circuit Judge Scott Jackson presiding.
Joshua L. Anderson and Charles Ky Hanna also face charges of first-degree murder and cruelty to animals in connection with Alvard’s death. Hanna’s trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 25, with Anderson to face trial beginning Nov. 15.
Anderson, Hanna and Helm were arrested on Feb. 8, 2021 — the three-year anniversary of the discovery of Alvard’s body — after an investigation by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and theArkansas State Police.
Alvard’s body was discovered inside a residence at 674 Carroll County Road 116 near Eureka Springs by CCSO deputies who were dispatched to check on an open door on Feb. 8, 2018.
The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the state police at the time of the murder and special agents from the ASP’s Criminal Investigation Team were assigned to the case.
One of the suspects confirmed to investigators that all three were involved in Alvard’s death, according to a probable-cause affidavit written by special agent Dale Bailey of the Arkansas State Police.
Family members became concerned when they couldn’t contact Alvard, according to the affidavit. Alvard’s mother went to his home and discovered the front door had been kicked in and there was a large amount of blood on the front porch, the affidavit says.
Carroll County deputies were dispatched to the scene and discovered Alvard’s body inside the doorway of the master bedroom, the affidavit says. Alvard’s dog was also found dead inside the residence and appeared to have been stabbed multiple times, according to the affidavit.
An autopsy later determined that Alvard died as the result of multiple stab wounds, the affidavit says.
According to the affidavit, the names of Anderson, Hanna and Helm “kept coming up as being involved” during the investigation into Alvard’s death.
“Based upon the three names, attempts were made to interview all three,” the affidavit says. “One of the three informed investigators that all three were involved in the death of Christopher Alvard. He stated that they initially went to the Alvard residence to ‘rough up’ Alvard. He stated Alvard fought back to the point where at least two of the potential defendants used deadly physical forced armed with knives.”
Other witnesses overheard or witnessed Anderson, Hanna and Helm discussing their involvement or saw evidence corroborating their involvement in Alvard’s death, the affidavit says.
All three men have pleaded not guilty. Jackson granted prosecuting attorney Tony Rogers’ motions to recuse himself from each case because Rogers has represented each defendant in the past. Special prosecutor Jack McQuary was appointed in each case.
