Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Five plead not guilty in beating death
FAYETTEVILLE — Five people pleaded not guilty in Washington County Circuit Court on Friday to charges related to a homicide Aug. 19.
Rebecca Lloyd, 36, John Christopher Davis, 27, and Mark Edward Chumley, 45, all of 433 S. Hill Ave., and Christopher Lee Treat and Desire Treat, both 29, of 315 S. Block St., Apt. 15, are all charged with accomplice to capital murder.
The five are charged in the killing of Victoria Annabeth Davis, 24, of 433 S. Hill Ave. Police said Davis was held captive at her house for hours and brutally beaten by her husband, John Davis, and the other four defendants.
Police said Davis’ death was “extremely violent.” Several weapons were used in the beating, they said.
All five were given a Dec. 15 trial date. Accomplice to capital murder is punishable by either life in prison without parole or the death penalty. Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett said he has not decided whether to seek the death penalty in the case.
Christopher Treat is also charged with a parole violation.
The five are being held without bond at the Washington County Detention Center, which is typical in capital murder cases.
John Davis had been married to Victoria Davis since at least 2012, according to police. The Treats are also married. Chumley was the Davises’ roommate, and Lloyd was Chumley’s girlfriend, police records show.
Christopher Treat is listed in police documents as a friend of John Davis.
Chumley called police at 12:39 p.m. and gave his phone to John Davis, according to a police call log. Davis told police he killed his wife because she wanted a divorce.
Davis told police he “shot her up with dope” and told police his wife was “in the living room on the floor.”
During an interview with detectives, Davis said he and other people kept his wife captive and beat her for several hours before destroying evidence at the crime scene. Victoria Davis had injuries indicative of blunt force trauma from an object, according to police.
Chumley and Christopher Treat admitted to taking part in the slaying, police said in preliminary reports. Davis, Chumley and Treat said Desire Treat also was involved. Several of those arrested said Lloyd was involved, according to an arrest report.
Lloyd told police she knew about the crime beforehand, participated in beating Davis and helped the others “in the commission of the crime and helping them dispose of evidence of the crime afterwards,” according to the report.
Chumley is listed in a police document as being homeless in 2013 and 2014. John and Victoria Davis lived at a homeless center in 2012, according to a police document.