Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Dec. 20, 2024 – The man accused of murdering another Jonesboro man was given a $500,000 bond.
Jonesboro police responded to a call on Dec. 18 in which the caller, 63-year-old Anthony “Tony” Barnes said he found his friend dead in his carport. When officers arrived on scene, they found the body covered in injuries appearing to have been caused by being hit or thrown by a vehicle. There was also “large amounts of road rash” on the victim’s body, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Police identified the victim to the public as 52-year-old Brian Presley on Thursday. Barnes was initially taken into custody as a person of interest in the case.
Barnes said he and Presley had been at his house painting cabinets when Presley told him he was heading home around 3 a.m. He added that they were the only two people in the house.
Later, Barnes told officers he’d gotten into a fight with Presley while he was naked and began “punching him in the face.” Barnes then said he dragged Presley out of the house and into his carport.
He then told officers Presley started yelling. When he went into the carport, Barnes said Presley swung at him, so he struck him again and knocked him down. Then, Barnes said Presley began “thrashing around” in the carport, ending up in a concrete ditch. He said he dragged Presley back onto the driveway, but he started yelling again, so Barnes dragged the victim back into the carport. He did this four to five times, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Barnes said he called a friend later that day, saying he’d found Presley in the carport and “didn’t think he was breathing.” The friend told Barnes he needed to call 911. Officers interviewed this person, who confirmed Barnes called him about finding Presley “not breathing.”
Barnes waited 50 minutes to call 911, according to the probable cause affidavit. After officers interviewed Barnes, they determined the story he gave about how they occurred was inconsistent with Presley’s injuries. Officers arrested Barnes for second degree murder and took him to the Craighead County Detention Center.
Barnes is charged with one count of second degree murder, which is a Class A felony. His court date is scheduled for Jan. 24 at 8:30 a.m. He was given a $500,000 cash or surety bond. If Barnes makes bond, he will be required to wear a GPS ankle monitor.
UPDATE 5:03 p.m: According to NEA Report, the murder charges against Barnes have been dropped. Deputy Prosecutor Charlene Henry told the news outlet Friday that after the probable cause hearings, she spoke with the Arkansas State Crime Lab’s medical examiner, who could not rule the case a homicide.
The medical examiner deemed the injuries on the victim’s body to be superficial and that the injuries were not the cause of death. In addition, the prosecutor and police did not feel like they had enough evidence to formally charge Barnes at the time. However, Henry told NEA Report that Barnes did admit to stomping on the victim and that officers had “more than probable cause” for arrest.
His information is no longer listed on the Craighead County Detention Center website.