Siloam Springs detectives arrested a man from Watts, Okla., in connection with manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
Carl Alsip, 51, was booked into Benton County Jail at 11:58 a.m. Monday in connection with manslaughter (class C felony) and tampering with physical evidence (class D felony). He is being held on a $25,000 bond. His court date is scheduled for June 29, according to information from the Benton County Sheriff's Office website.
On Oct. 31, 2014, Siloam Springs police responded to a call regarding a body at 1200 W. Jefferson St. Officers found the body of Ronald Fidler with what was later classified as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, but a crime-scene examination found no firearm.
Upon further investigation police looked to Alsip as a suspect. He admitted to assisting Fidler with the suicide by purchasing the gun and ammunition for him, because Fidler could not legally purchase one for himself, according to a press release from the city of Siloam Springs.
Police would not release information as to why Fidler was unable to legally obtain a firearm.
According to the release, when Alsip found a deceased Fidler he took the weapon and bullets to his home in an attempt to hide his involvement, because the gun was registered to Alsip. He then notified authorities.
Law enforcement seized the firearm and submitted it to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for testing, according to the release.
"Six months is not uncommon for an investigation of this type of incident," said Police Chief Chief Jim Wilmeth. "This investigation took the period of time that it took because we were prudent in how we conducted (the) investigation. We don't get rushed in searching out the facts and determine what they are."
Wilmeth said that he has no recollection of working a case with the possibility of an assisted suicide before this one. Police are not looking at any other suspects, but the investigation is still open, Wilmeth said.
Aiding in a suicide is classified as manslaughter.
"There are certain elements involved in manslaughter," Wilmeth said. "Those elements include engaging in an act that results in another person's death and that is a part of the investigation. ... Manslaughter can happen in a lot of different situations that people might not normally recognize as being manslaughter."
General News on 05/20/2015