Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Borders unfit to proceed in case
Doctor says accused murderer, 42, suffers from schizophrenia
FAYETTEVILLE — A man charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing isn’t fit to proceed to trial, according to a doctor who examined him at the Arkansas State Hospital.
Jeremy Borders, 42, is accused of killing Joe Bob Scarborough, 48, on Nov. 6, 2016. Scarborough was found stabbed to death near the intersection of
Old Farmington Road and
South Green
Point Trace in Fayetteville.
A preliminary arrest report said Scarborough suffered more than 10 stab wounds, many to his torso and face. Police found Borders covered in blood, with a trail of blood from him to Scarborough, according to the report. Police also found a knife.
The examination found Borders suffers from schizophrenia and has a history of alcohol use disorder.
“It is my opinion that at the time of the examination, due to symptoms of schizophrenia, Mr. Borders lacked the rational understanding of the criminal proceedings against him and lacked the capacity to rationally assist and communicate with his attorney regarding his case,” Dr. Melissa Dannacher wrote in her report.
Dannacher recommended inpatient restoration services and a possible medication adjustment in order to treat persistent auditory hallucinations.
“Mr. Borders will likely be restored to fitness once his ability to focus without interference from psychotic symptoms improves,” Dannacher concluded.
Dannacher said Borders reported a long history of psychiatric treatment for psychotic symptoms beginning in his late 20s.
Police received an openline call that plotted to the area that Sunday evening. Dispatchers didn’t speak with the caller but heard what sounded like an argument and someone yelling “stop,” according to dispatch logs.
Police found Borders, who lived nearby sitting on a curb wearing shorts and no shirt. He had bloody hands and blood on his chest, shorts and legs.
Borders told police, “I didn’t mean to kill him; I didn’t want him to kill me,” according to the report.
Neighbors said Scarborough was a well-liked and generous maintenance man for several duplexes along South Green Point Trace, which is just west of Interstate 49.
Several residents said Borders was threatening them from the edge of his property earlier that day. He was shouting at everyone, including children, saying if anyone stepped on his property, he’d kill them, they said.