Gentry woman’s murder case halted for mental evaluation

BENTONVILLE - Proceedings in the criminal case of a Gentry woman accused of killing her husband were suspended last week.

Susan Fleck, 32, is charged with capital murder, a Class Y felony. She is accused of shooting her husband, Evan, to death in their Gentry home earlier this year. Susan Fleck previously pleaded not guilty to the charge and is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.

Jay Saxton, chief Benton County public defender, requested a mental evaluation for Fleck, who already has been evaluated by a psychologist in the county jail, Saxton said.

Saxton had to explain to Fleck a mental evaluation was required for him to properly represent her, he said.

“She begrudgingly agreesto it because she wants the case over with quickly,” Saxton said.

Circuit Judge Robin Green granted the request and suspended proceedings. Fleck will be evaluated at the Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock. A mental status hearing is set for Sept. 30.

Evan Fleck was found shot in his bed after Gentry police went to the home in response to a 911 call at about 4 a.m. March 3. Police found the couple’s children in the basement, according to court documents.

Susan Fleck called Benton County Central Communications from Delaware County, Okla. She told a dispatcher her husband was in the bedroom and he had filed for divorce, according to court documents.

Evan Fleck filed for divorce Feb. 19, according to court documents. The couple had been married since July 13, 1997. Delaware County Sheriff’s Offi cedeputies found a green and black Springfi eld .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol with several rounds still in the magazine after they made contact with Susan Fleck at Twisters, a convenience store in Kansas, Okla., according to probable cause affi davit.

Stephanie McLemore, deputy prosecutor, informed the court Monday of a possible violation of a no-contact order when a third party may have relayed a message to Fleck’s children from her.

Green previously had ordered Fleck not to have any type of contact with her four children or her husband’s family.

Fleck seemed like she was going to respond, but after quietly speaking with Saxton she did not say anything.

Green told Fleck she was not to have any contact - directly or indirectly - with the children or her husband’s family.