Jury selection underway in murder case

FAYETTEVILLE — Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of Mark Edward Chumley in Washington County Circuit Court.

Chumley, 49, is charged 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 five people, including Chumley. She died of blunt force trauma.

Chumley’s first trial in May ended in mistrial after a co-defendant said in his testimony Chumley is a convicted felon.

Chumley faces life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.

Scott Parks, one of Chumley’s defense team, quizzed potential jurors Monday morning and tried to impart the gravity of the case.

“Most cases are a matter of maybe losing your freedom, this case is a matter of life, really,” Parks said. “Ultimately, you are going to decide if this is a capital case.”

Judge Joanna Taylor is hearing the case.

Taylor called a group of 50 potential jurors to the courthouse Monday morning, another 50 are expected to be in the courtroom this afternoon.

After speaking to the larger group, jurors were broken into small groups, usually four, so the lawyers could ask their opinions regarding the death penalty.

“We have to have a death qualified jury, 12 jurors who are capable of imposing the death penalty,” said Matt Durrett, prosecutor. “We also have to have 12 jurors who are life qualified, they can impose life in prison.”

Five potential jurors were dismissed Monday, one because he told the attorneys he couldn’t impose either sentence.

Another was stricken after saying she didn’t think she had the right to impose the death penalty.

A dozen were selected for the final pool of possible jurors to hear the case.

The remaining jurors, those not interviewed in small groups Monday, will return this morning for interviews before the second large group arrives in the early afternoon.

Final strikes are expected Wednesday with a jury being seated and opening statements expected either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.

John Davis, Tori Davis’ husband, 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 Christopher Treat, 32; his wife, Desire Amber Treat, 32; and Rebecca Lee Lloyd, 39.

Legal proceedings against the co-defendants have been delayed because some are expected to testify against Chumley in exchange for plea bargains.

Chumley