A jury trial for one of two men charged with the late June 2019 murder of then 20-year-old Tyler Wade Pickett of Mountain Home was cancelled Monday and 29-year-old James Edward “Tyler” Davis of Norfork changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to 35 years in prison in Baxter County Circuit Court.
Davis of Norfork, and 40-year-old Jeffery Scott Shepherd of Mountain Home, were both initially charged with first-degree murder and battery in connection with Pickett’s death. Davis pled guilty to 2nd degree murder and battery.
Speaking through tears, the victim’s older sister delivered a victim impact statement and told Davis that, despite what had happened, her younger brother would have forgiven him for taking his life. She said “that’s just the way he was.”
She said her brother’s death “has ruined so many lives, our family will never be the same.” The sister said she had been so devastated by the murder she had tried to take her own life. She told Davis, “I hope you think about this every day for the rest of your life.” She said the man who had just pled guilty to her brother’s murder would face his maker at one point “and he will serve you justice.”
When asked what role he played in Pickett’s murder, Davis answered, “I shot the victim.” He also admitted to hitting and kicking Pickett.
Davis was represented by Little Rock attorney Darrell Brown. Retired Circuit Judge Gordon Webb was on the bench. He was assigned by the Arkansas Supreme Court to help clear the backlog of cases that built up during the time while the courts were operating under restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandimic.
If the jury trial had been held, documents filed in the case indicatd the state could have put up to 25 witnesses on the stand. The list includes the co-defendant, Shepherd.
LISTED MANY ADDRESSES
Both Davis and Shepherd appear to have led somewhat nomadic lives. Shepherd has listed addresses in Gassville, Salesville and Mountain Home. He has also used an Oklahoma driver’s license according to court records.
Davis has either listed addresses, or court records show him to have been in trouble in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Norfork; Judsonia; Bentonville and Izard County.
At one time, Davis indicated he lived at an address on Windswept Trail in Norfork — the same address where Pickett’s remains were found.
MOTHER’S SEARCH FOR SON
Prior to his body being found, Pickett’s mother was active on social media asking for help in finding her son. She said he had not been in contact with her since April 15,2019. Pickett had been officially reported missing to the Mountain Home Police in mid-September 2019.
After his remains were located Pickett’s mother announced the death of her missing child by posting on Facebook, “Tyler has been found. But, it wasn’t the outcome we were looking for.”
It has also been reported it was not unusual for Pickett to be out of touch with his family for short periods of time. His mother said, however, he had never been silent for months.
Officers had worked the missing person’s report without success for about three months.
MISSING PERSON CASE MORPHS INTO MURDER
In early December 2019, the case heated up when a “concerned citizen” provided information that ultimately led to discovery of the victim’s remains and the arrest of the two men allegedly involved in killing him.
The citizen told officers Pickett had been shot to death and his body was located in the Norfork area.
In addition, the caller provided names and other information that enabled officers to conduct interviews with a number of people – leading to the identification of a person of interest.
SEARCH WARRANT
A search warrant was obtained for the property along Windswept Trail. A circuit judge authorized the warrant after being provided with preliminary information gathered from helicopter flights over the area, as well as from a ground crew.
Investigators found partial skeletal remains and personal items that led to the identification of the body as that of the missing man.
Officers first interviewed Shepherd and, according to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery, Shepherd admitted he had gone alone to the property on Windswept Trail June 27,2019 and met Davis, Pickett and a female who all came together in a separate vehicle.
VICTIM WALKED TO RUBBISH PIT AND SHOT
Shepherd is alleged to have also admitted that shortly after all four people arrived at the site, he hit Pickett in the jaw with his closed fist, knocking him out. He was reported to have kicked Pickett in the ribs while he was on the ground.
After Pickett came to, Davis and Shepherd were reported to have walked him to a rubbish pile where Davis allegedly shot him multiple times with a .22-caliber rifle. The two men departed the crime scene, leaving Pickett’s lifeless body on the rubbish pile.
In her victim impact statement, Pickett’s older sister said the way her brother had been left “was beyond cruel.” She said “all that is left of my brother is in a jar, just bones.”
The female who had driven to the area with Davis and Pickett claimed Davis had given her narcotics and she was passed out for most of the time Pickett was attacked and killed.
WOMAN TOLD PICKETT DEAD
She told investigators when she awoke and realized the victim was no longer with them, she asked Davis where Pickett was. Davis was alleged to have responded, “he’s dead, don’t worry about him, and they will never find the body or the gun.”
Currently no information has been made public by investigators concerning alleged connections between the victim and the others involved, or what might have led Davis and Shepherd to allegedly take Pickett’s life. Davis said nothing in court Monday to shed light on the motive.
Davis has had a number of criminal cases opened against him, with the first being filed in 2012.
Charges were filed against Davis in Baxter County in 2012, 2014 and 2016. He faced drug charges in Izard County in 2018. He also had a criminal case opened against him in Benton County.
He is currently serving time in prison on charges unrelated to the murder. Davis is being held in the Pine Bluff Unit of the state prison system.
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