This Jan. 3, 2020 booking photo provided by the Sebastian County (Arkansas) Sheriff's Office shows Jordana Rogers. Rogers, was arraigned Wednesday, Jan 8, 2020, in Sebastian County Circuit Court on a first-degree murder charge in the death of her mother Melinda, who was found dead her Nacogdoches County, Texas, home in December 2019, according to a news release by 12th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Shue. A public defender entered an innocent plea for Rogers Wednesday. (Sebastian County Sheriff's Office via AP)
MANSFIELD, Ark. (AP) — A 32-year-old woman accused of killing her mother in western Arkansas has pleaded not guilty, a prosecuting attorney said.
Daniel Shue, prosecuting lawyer for the 12th Judicial District, issued a news release that shows Jordana Caraway Rogers was arraigned on Wednesday in Sebastian County Circuit Court on a first-degree murder charge, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. Rogers appeared in person and a public defender was selected to represent her, entering the plea on her behalf.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the sheriff’s office in Nacogdoches County, Texas, arrested Rogers on an aggravated assault charge on Dec. 23. Authorities said Rogers made statements about her mother, Melinda Rogers, while in custody that concerned them about the older woman’s well-being.
The affidavit states that Texas investigators reached out to the Sebastian County sheriff’s office, which then contacted Mansfield police. Authorities said officers went to Melinda Rogers’ home the same day where they found her dead and covered in blankets on the master bedroom’s floor.
The victim was lying on her side, her head “black and blue and covered in blood,” according to the affidavit.
Authorities said a search of the home revealed a drill battery at the victim’s feet and a rechargeable power drill in the locked closet of the master bedroom. The drill appeared to be covered in hair and blood, authorities wrote.
Arkansas State Police took over the probe at the request of Mansfield police and learned Melinda Rogers had not been seen in several days and that her car had vanished from the driveway.
Jordana Rogers was driving her mother’s car when she was arrested, the affidavit revealed.
The investigation is reportedly still in progress.
Jordana Rogers was booked into Sebastian County jail on Friday on a first-degree murder charge. She remained there Wednesday, an online jail roster indicates.
During the arraignment Judge J. Michael Fitzhugh granted the prosecuting lawyer’s recommendation that Jordana Rogers’ bond remain at $500,000. No trial date has been scheduled.
