Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Jury hears opening statements
Defense claims Chumley’s role in 2015 killing exaggerated
FAYETTEVILLE — A man on trial in connection with torturing and killing a young woman threatened and beat others who didn’t comply with his orders, prosecutors told a jury in opening statements Wednesday.
Mark Edward Chumley, 48, is charged in Washington County Circuit Court with accomplice to capital murder in the killing of Victoria Annabeth Davis, known as Tori, on Aug. 19, 2015. Police said Davis, 24, of 433 S. Hill Ave., was held captive at her home for hours and beaten by her husband, John Christopher Davis, 28, and four others, including Chumley. She died of blunt force trauma.
The state is seeking the death penalty against Chumley. John Davis pleaded guilty earlier this year to being an accomplice to first-degree murder and was sentenced to 37 years in prison. The other defendants are Rebecca Lee Lloyd, 39, and Christopher Lee Treat and Desire Amber Treat, both 32.
The defense doesn’t dispute Chumley was involved but they contend his role is being exaggerated.
“This trial is not about whether Tori Davis was killed,” said Scott Brisendine. “The trial is about the extent of each of the co-defendants’ participation and their motivation for testifying before you in the trial.”
The defense is asking the jury to return a verdict on a lesser offense.
“There are many aspects of this case that are not in contention,” Brisendine said. “Who did what, however is not so readily apparent. At the conclusion of the evidence you will have many unanswered questions.”
Terra Stephenson, deputy prosecutor, told jurors John Davis and Chris and Desire Treat are expected to testify against Chumley.
“I suspect that between them there will be some inconsistencies,” Stephenson said. “But, what all three are very, very consistent about, what all three don’t waiver on, is that this defendant, Mark Chumley, was the ring leader, that he told them what to do.”
Stephenson told jurors the co-defendants will say all five of them beat Tori Davis with baseball bats and Chumley tried to unsuccessfully rape her with a bat before telling John Davis to fetch chainsaw oil for lubrication. They hooked a battery charger to her nipples in an effort to electrocute her, then Chumley injected her with drugs before locking her in the shed where she died, Stephenson said.
Brisendine told jurors everything the co-defendants say is designed to save themselves. He said there’ll be no evidence Tori Davis was raped with a baseball bat nor that she was injected with drugs.
The Treats had ongoing issues with Tori Davis dating to 2013 when they lived together, Brisendine said. The dispute involved stealing and cat clothes made from clothing that had belonged to Chris Treat’s deceased sister. There were several physical altercations between the three, Brisendine said.
“Mr. and Mrs. Treat have much to gain from testifying against Mr. Chumley. They have the ability to save themselves when facing a trial in which they could conceivably receive the death penalty,” Brisendine said.
Several Fayetteville police officers Wednesday afternoon described arriving at the house filled with turmoil and dissension and a belligerent Chumley in the middle of it all trying to orchestrate the scene. Davis’ battered body was found in a small, locked shed behind the main house naked from the waist down, a used syringe with the needle bent was beside her, they said.
Police found baseball bats strewn along nearby railroad tracks they testified were used to beat Tori Davis.
A jury of six men and six women are hearing the case. Three alternate jurors were selected, two women and one man.
Chumley rejected a deal of life in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to first-degree murder just after jury selection was completed earlier Wednesday.
The trial is expected to run into next week.