Update: FBI Joins Bentonville Homicide Investigation
By: KNWA, Fayetteville, Ark
Updated: November 22, 2012
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The Bentonville Police Chief confirms the FBI has joined the investigation into the suspected killing of 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman. The department reached out to the federal agency with a formal request Wednesday.
Search warrants were executed on three homes on SE A Street Tuesday night. Police said they took more than 50 pieces of evidence from those homes. Police Chief Jon Simpson said the Thanksgiving holiday will not alter investigation, they plan to work continuously on case.
All evidence and the child's body was sent to AR state crime lab around 9 Wed morning.
Jersey Bridgeman's time of death ranges between midnight and the time of her discovery Tues morning before 7, according to police.
Property owners tell KNWA News the person renting one of the homes being investigated is DesaRae Bridgeman and is the mother of the victim.
Family members identify the girl's father as David Bridgeman.
David Bridgeman was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2011 for chaining his daughter to a dresser. Bridgeman pleaded guilty to three felony charges in the case.
Here's the entire press release from Bentonville Police Department, released Wednesday:
Tuesday morning, November 20th, 2012, at 6:43 AM the Bentonville Police Department received the report of a missing 6 year old female. The child was reported to be missing from her home at 608 SE A Street. A neighborhood search resulted in the discovery of the child's body within a vacant house at 704 SE A Street at 6:53 AM. The missing child has been identified as Jersey Bridgeman. The child's body was delivered to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday and an extensive investigation into the death was initiated. Detectives worked throughout the evening to complete three search warrants and collect evidence. These items of evidence are currently being delivered to the Arkansas State Crime Lab. This investigation is currently ongoing and active and will continue without pause until its completion. Previously gathered information is being evaluated, new leads are being examined, and numerous persons are being interviewed. At this time, Medical Examiner and Crime Lab results are pending. To maintain the integrity of this investigation, certain details related to this case (or related to the addresses or persons associated with this case) are currently not available for public release.
Previous coverage
Bentonville Police Discover Body of Missing 6-Year-Old
Search warrants were executed on three homes on SE A Street Tuesday night. Police said they took more than 50 pieces of evidence from those homes. Police Chief Jon Simpson said the Thanksgiving holiday will not alter investigation, they plan to work continuously on case.
All evidence and the child's body was sent to AR state crime lab around 9 Wed morning.
Jersey Bridgeman's time of death ranges between midnight and the time of her discovery Tues morning before 7, according to police.
Property owners tell KNWA News the person renting one of the homes being investigated is DesaRae Bridgeman and is the mother of the victim.
Family members identify the girl's father as David Bridgeman.
David Bridgeman was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2011 for chaining his daughter to a dresser. Bridgeman pleaded guilty to three felony charges in the case.
Here's the entire press release from Bentonville Police Department, released Wednesday:
Tuesday morning, November 20th, 2012, at 6:43 AM the Bentonville Police Department received the report of a missing 6 year old female. The child was reported to be missing from her home at 608 SE A Street. A neighborhood search resulted in the discovery of the child's body within a vacant house at 704 SE A Street at 6:53 AM. The missing child has been identified as Jersey Bridgeman. The child's body was delivered to the Arkansas State Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday and an extensive investigation into the death was initiated. Detectives worked throughout the evening to complete three search warrants and collect evidence. These items of evidence are currently being delivered to the Arkansas State Crime Lab. This investigation is currently ongoing and active and will continue without pause until its completion. Previously gathered information is being evaluated, new leads are being examined, and numerous persons are being interviewed. At this time, Medical Examiner and Crime Lab results are pending. To maintain the integrity of this investigation, certain details related to this case (or related to the addresses or persons associated with this case) are currently not available for public release.
Previous coverage
Bentonville Police Discover Body of Missing 6-Year-Old
