Springdale man’s trial set for April

Harlan accused in roommate’s killing

BENTONVILLE — An April jury trial is scheduled for a Springdale man accused of killing his roommate.

Zachary Harlan, 34, is charged as a habitual offender with capital murder, aggravated residential burglary and theft of property. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Harlan is accused of killing Steve March.

He was in court Monday and Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green scheduled his jury trial to begin April 14.

Green wanted to know whether prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

Stuart Cearley, chief deputy prosecutor, told her at the moment it’s a death penalty case and he expects it to take three weeks to try the case.

Springdale police officers found March’s body May 14, 2018, at his Moulton Lane home lying on his bed with dried blood on his head and face, according to a probable cause affidavit. He had an injury to the left side of his face and a cut on his neck, according to a probable cause affidavit.

March’s home is in the area of Springdale in Benton County.

Police found a broken knife — believed to be the murder weapon — under March’s body, according to the affidavit. The knife was taken from a set on the kitchen counter, according to court documents.

An inmate housed with Harlan while he was in the Washington County Jail told police Harlan confessed to killing March, according to court documents.

The investigation found Harlan downloaded an app called SMS-Tracker and was able to track his former girlfriend’s location and who she was communicating with by accessing her text messages, according to court documents.

Police said Harlan was able to read messages between his former girlfriend and March, according to the affidavit.

Harlan