Photo: Royce Calkins
Further details have been released in a double homicide reported last week in Stone County by the Arkansas State Police (ASP).
In the earlier report, ASP said two apparent murder victims were discovered inside a home north of Mountain View Tuesday. The victims were identified as 64-year-old Ronald Calkins, who lived at the house on Chateau Pointe Loop off Arkansas Highway 87, and 40-year-old Brandy Patrick, also of Mountain View.
Tuesday evening, law enforcement located 43-year-old Royce Calkins, the son of the murder victim, in the Fifty Six community and took him into custody. He is being held in the Stone County Detention Center on two charges of first-degree murder.
The probable cause affidavit made available later last week says the victims appeared to have died as a result of gunshot wounds.
Ronald Calkins had a black Glock handgun in his left hand. However, he had apparently been shot in the left wrist. Not only did it appear from the injury he would not have been able to maintain the grip of the handgun found in his hand, evidence indicated the weapon was placed there after he died. During an interview with Ronald Calkin’s mother, she informed investigators her son was right-handed.
The discovery of the two victims was made by Patrick’s son, who told law enforcement he had gone to the residence to check on his mother shortly before 3 p.m.
He arrived to find the front door of the residence open and discovered the victims in the kitchen area.
When Stone County deputies arrived, they learned Royce Calkins, Patrick’s boyfriend who lived at the home, was not at the residence and his father’s truck was missing. The missing truck would lead law enforcement to Fifty Six Tuesday evening where the vehicle was parked at a store.
Shortly before 5 Tuesday afternoon, an ASP special agent reported receiving a call from a man who said Royce Calkins had contacted him at 3:30 using his father’s cellphone.
Royce Calkins reportedly told the man his father and Patrick “were gone.” The man said he told Royce Calkins he hoped that did not mean what he thought it meant. Royce Calkins replied it did, and “that they had been conspiring against him and there were others that were in on it.”
When Royce Calkins was taken into custody that evening, he reportedly told the arresting officers, “I’m sorry about all this. It was an accident.” He continued to state several times, “I’m sorry.”
When he was being processed into the Stone County jail and asked about any medical conditions, the affidavit notes Royce Calkins replied “he suffered from a broken heart because of what he had to do.”
In addition to the murder charges, he faces a count of possession of a firearm by certain persons, meaning he is a convicted felon.
Royce Calkins’ bond is set at $500,000.
Online records indicate James E. Hensley Jr. of Conway is serving as Calkin’s attorney.
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