Plea resolves trial in poisoning death

ARKADELPHIA — A murder trial ended abruptly Thursday when a deal was reached allowing Hilda Daves to plead no contest to manslaughter in the poisoning death of her granddaughter.

The change was made so Daves’ grandson Benjamin, 11, who was also poisoned, wouldn’t have to testify against her in court, said Prosecutor Dan Turner.

“We just didn’t want to put the child through that,” Turner said. “I think he could have testified on the stand, but I didn’t think that was the right thing to do. … The family was 100% behind it. They just wanted the case to be over with.”

The trial began Tuesday before Judge Ted Capeheart in Clark County Circuit Court.

Daves, 53, of near Amity, pleaded no contest to manslaughter and introduction of a controlled substance into the body of another person. Capeheart sentenced her to 20 years in prison, 10 years on each charge. The murder charge was dropped.

“I’m satisfied,” said Lee Short, one of the attorneys for Daves. “I don’t think either side is happy with the outcome, but the fact that she has already served four and a half years makes this easier to stomach because it won’t be that much longer before she’ll be able to get out.”

Short said Daves will be eligible for parole in a year.

According to an affidavit of arrest, on Jan. 17, 2016, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office received a call saying Daves poisoned her two grandchildren and was suicidal.

Officers arrived to find Daves suffering from a gunshot wound and her granddaughter, 5, dead. Benjamin had already been taken to a Hot Springs hospital.

According to the affidavit, Daves told investigators she killed her granddaughter, the boy might die if he did not receive medical attention and she planned to commit suicide.

Benjamin told investigators Daves made beverages for the children in a cup. Toxicology screening showed the boy had promethazine in his urine, and his sister had promethazine and amiodarone in her blood, the affidavit said.

The affidavit said promethazine is an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms and nausea, and is a sedative. Amiodarone is an antiarrythmic drug used to keep the heart beating normally.