Rick Headley of Mountain Home, charged with stabbing his wife to death in March, was reported to have threatened to kill a staff member at the Baxter County Jail while incarcerated for murder. But, while the incident dates back to late May, no information has been provided by the sheriff’s office to the prosecutor so a criminal file could be set up.
Headley was also reported to have homemade knives in his cell giving him the means to carry out his threats.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery was asked why no charges had yet been filed against the man for what appeared to be a serious threat against the life of one of his own jail staff. He told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot News Monday the investigation has now been concluded and the probable cause affidavit and other information was being prepared Monday to forward to the prosecutor’s office.
Two inmates told detention center personnel Headley had said he intended to kill a specific jailer if the opportunity presented itself.
According to an incident report written by the sheriff’s office, jailers did a search of Headley’s cell and found three pieces of metal sharpened down into points. One of the make-shift 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 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.
Rick 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 walking 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 for his wife’s death, including capital murder, false imprisonment, terroristic threatening and aggravated assault.
A separate charge has been filed charging Rick Headley with violating the existing order of protection taken out by his wife.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI