Multiple altercations preceded murder plot

A Hot Springs man accused of plotting to have a local woman killed had a history of incidents involving her and her husband over the past year, Hot Springs police say.

Ricky Cleveland Alexander, 58, was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with solicitation of murder in the first degree, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison, stemming from allegations he attempted to hire a friend to kill Amy Emley. Alexander remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $750,000 bond.

According to the affidavit for Alexander’s arrest, there were several documented incidents over the last year involving Alexander, Amy Emley, and

her husband, Shane Emley. The incidents included physical altercations, an alleged aggravated assault in which Amy Emley stated Alexander entered her home and pointed a shotgun at her, and Alexander shooting another person, Alvin Sherman Nobles, 32, outside the Emleys’ previous residence.

The main issue reportedly stems from Amy Emley obtaining more than $40,000 from Alexander’s father prior to his death, which Alexander alleges was obtained by fraud, the affidavit said.

On Feb. 21, shortly before

10:30 a.m., a witness came to the police department and spoke to HSPD Detective Scott Lampinen alleging that Alexander, whom he has been friends with for years, was trying to hire him to kill Amy Emley. He said Alexander had approached him about one month prior and offered him

$10,000 to kill Amy Emley. The friend said they had spoken “14 to 15 times since then and (Alexander) was pushing for an answer.” He noted Alexander wouldn’t discuss it on the phone, so he would usually call him in the afternoon and have the friend come to his house, located at

217 Burroughs St., where they would discuss it in Alexander’s backyard.

The friend “had not agreed to do it, but believed (Alexander) was coming into some money and would be wanting an answer.” He said Alexander offered to pay him half the money up front and the other half “when it was done.” He said Alexander wanted the friend to tell him when the murder was going to be committed “so he could have an alibi.”

The friend agreed to wear an audio/video recording device at their next meeting, which occurred on Feb. 22, around 1 p.m., in the backyard at Alexander’s residence. The two discussed killing Amy Emley, and the friend agreed to kill her but told him he needed half the money up front and a gun.

Alexander allegedly told him he had some money coming in the following day, but it wouldn’t be available until that next Monday, Feb. 27. When the friend asked Alexander how he wanted him to kill Emley, he reportedly said “he didn’t care, whatever was easiest.” When he asked if Alexander was sure he wanted to do this, Alexander said he was.

Between Feb. 22 and March 7, Alexander was allegedly in contact with the friend telling him he was in the process of getting the money but “it was taking longer than expected.” The affidavit notes further investigation revealed Alexander was obtaining a $25,000 loan against his deceased father’s estate through probate court.

On March 9, around noon, the friend met with Alexander again at his residence and in a second recorded conversation, Alexander again spoke about killing Emley. Alexander allegedly asked his friend to bury Emley after she was killed “so that no one would find her.” Alexander also told the friend he would need to find his own weapon “so that he would not be linked back to any guns.”

Alexander stated he was going to his bank at 3 p.m. that day to obtain money from the loan he was getting and told the friend to come back around 6 p.m. so he could pay him. Lampinen conducted surveillance of the bank and saw Alexander enter the bank at 3 p.m. and leave about 24 minutes later.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the friend recorded a third conversation with Alexander at his home during which Alexander allegedly showed him he had $2,000 in cash for him. He gave the friend $100 in cash to purchase a weapon and put the $2,000 in a safe. He told the friend he would give him the

$2,000 after Emley was dead “and would have to pay the rest out every couple of weeks because probate court would only allow him to obtain small amounts at a time.”

On Saturday, the friend met Alexander at his house again around 5:30 p.m. and recorded a fourth conversation during which Alexander paid him $500 toward the $10,000 total to have Emley killed and agreed to pay the balance over time.

Based on the evidence from the four recordings, a warrant was issued for Alexander and he was taken into custody.

Alexander was still out on

$10,00 bond at the time of his arrest Monday stemming from his arrest Oct. 7, 2016, on a felony charge of first-degree battery for allegedly shooting Nobles while attempting to shoot Shane Emley.

According to the affidavit on the battery, on Oct. 7, around 8:15 p.m., witnesses said Alexander parked his

1976 Lincoln passenger car at the Emley’s then residence on Wood Street and called out to Nobles, “Where’s Shane at?” Nobles ran and yelled “gun” as Alexander allegedly fired three to four shots, striking Nobles once in the back.

The witnesses reportedly told police they have known Alexander for a long time and recognized him as the shooter. They were able to provide a license plate number that returned to Alexander. A short time later, officers responded to Alexander’s Burroughs Street residence and located his vehicle parked in the driveway.

HSPD S.W.A.T. team members executed a search warrant on the residence, but did not find Alexander inside. A short time later, Alexander turned himself in at the police department.