The paperwork related to new charges against Rick Headley for making threats against a staff member at the Baxter County Detention Center was completed by the sheriff’s office and forwarded to the 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney on Thursday.
Headley was initially charged with stabbing his wife to death in March. He has since been charged with violating a protective order and now with making threats to the jailer and for having homemade knives in his cell.
On Friday, Headley appeared by video hookup from the jail for a Rule 8.1 hearing before Judge Jason Duffy. The judge read the new charges against Headley — criminal use of a prohibited weapon, terroristic threatening, criminal mischief and furnishing, possession or using prohibited articles in the jail.
Judge Duffy also informed Headley of his constitutional rights during the brief hearing. At one point Headley wanted to address the court, but Judge Duffy said unless he wanted to talk about matters dealing with the hearing, it would be in his interest not to make comments.
Headley made no further comment.
The 8.1 ruling requires an inmate who is not released by lawful manner, such as posting bond, to be brought before a judicial officer without unnecessary delay.
The incident which resulted in the new charges against Headley stretch back to late May. Two inmates in the detention center reported Headley said he intended to stab a certain jailer, if the opportunity presented itself. New information filed in the case sheds light on the reason for Headley’s targeting of a certain jailer. Because of the seriousness of the original crime committed by Headley, he was not allowed outside the confines of the jail. He had apparently been told he could, however, take part in a work detail in the enclosed recreational yard only.
Headley seem to have developed the idea it was the jailer he had threatened to stab who was responsible for not allowing him to take part in the recreational yard work detail.
After jail staff was informed by the two inmates of the threat by Headley, it was decided to search his cell. Three pieces of metal sharpened into points where found. One of the makeshift knives had a handle on it. Two of the sharpened metal pieces were found on the bottom side of the top bunk in the cell and the third in Headley’s sleeping mat tucked into the foam padding.
Headley was first arrested in March after police responded to the Dollar General Store on State Highway 5 South about 10:00 p.m. When the officers entered the store, they reported finding 38-year-old Kirstie Headley, an employee of the store, lying on the floor. She was the estranged wife of Rick Headley. Headley is alleged to have entered the store, grabbed his estranged wife by the shirt and dragged her outside. Witnesses told officers they saw him with a knife in his right hand and saw him stab Kirstie Headley several times.
Video surveillance cameras at the store captured scenes of Kirstie Headley walk back into the store holding her chest. They reported she was covered in blood. Emergency medical personnel arrived and transported the victim to Baxter Regional Medical Center where she died a short time later.
Headley had fled the scene before officers arrived. He was captured a few hours later and is reported to have told the arresting officers he went to his wife’s place of employment with the intent to kill her.
According to electronic court records, Kirstie Headley had filed two affidavits seeking orders of protection to keep Rick Headley away from her. In both, she mentioned being threatened with a knife and in one reported Headley actually stabbed her in the hip. In the affidavit, Kirstie Headley said Rick Headley had become more obsessive and controlling during their marriage.
Rick Headley has pled not guilty to the charges against him related to his wife’s death, including capital murder, false imprisonment, terroristic threatening and aggravated assault. A separate charge was filed charging Rick Headley with violating the existing order of protection taken out by his wife.
He is scheduled to appear in circuit court next Thursday.
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