The first-degree murder trial of Jason Helm — one of three Carroll County men accused in the 2018 slaying of Christopher Alvard at his home near Eureka Springs — was abruptly delayed last week in Carroll County Circuit Court.
With jury selection completed and opening statements scheduled to begin before a crowd of spectators at the Western District Courthouse in Eureka Springs, special prosecutor Jack McQuary moved to continue the case on Wednesday morning, Aug. 24. McQuary told Circuit Judge Scott Jackson that prosecutors had received new information earlier that morning that he described as “crucial” to the state’s case.
Helm’s defense attorney, Ben Catterlin, objected to the continuance, but Jackson granted McQuary’s motion.
McQuary did not elaborate on the new information and declined to comment later.
After Jackson granted the continuance, the 12 jurors and two alternates were brought into the courtroom, where Jackson thanked them for their service and dismissed them. The jury had been selected the previous day.
Jackson later issued an order scheduling an omnibus hearing for 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 19, in Eureka Springs to discuss a new trial date for Helm. Jackson’s order also allows for Helm’s ankle monitor to be removed and for Helm to travel under the condition that he maintain weekly contact with Lt. Blake Ringberg of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and inform Ringberg of his whereabouts.
Jackson indicated that new trial dates also will be scheduled for Joshua Anderson and Charles Ky Hanna, the other two men charged inAlvard’s death. Hanna’s trial had been scheduled to begin Oct. 25, whileAnderson had been set to face trial beginning Nov. 15.
Anderson, Hanna and Helm each are charged with first-degree murder and cruelty to animals.
CCSO deputies who had been dispatched to check on an open door on Feb. 8, 2018, found Alvard’s body inside his home at 674 Carroll County Road 116 near Eureka Springs. The body of Alvard’s dog also was found at the scene. An autopsy later determined that Alvard died as the result of multiple stab wounds. His dog also appeared to have been stabbed multiple times.
The sheriff’s office requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police at and special agents from the ASP’s Criminal Investigation Team were assigned to the case.
Anderson, Hanna and Helm were arrested on Feb. 8, 2021 — the three-year anniversary of the discovery ofAlvard’s body.
According to a probable-cause affidavit written by special agent Dale Bailey of the Arkansas State Police, the names ofAnderson, Hanna and Helm “kept coming up as being involved” during the investigation intoAlvard’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. McQuary was appointed in each case.
