FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A new hearing date has been set for a man accused of stabbing his wife to death outside of their home in Fayetteville last April. Documents show the court date was originally scheduled for July 11, 2023, but the hearing was pushed back to Oct. 24, before being pushed back once again to Jan. 23, 2024.
Prosecuting Attorney Denis Dean says both the defense and prosecution asked for 40-year-old Marcus Joiner's case to be continued to January, due to "a large volume of evidence that has just been presented to the prosecution that will need to be turned over to the defense ... We received that from the Fayetteville Police Department, and it's a lot of electronic analysis and data seized by both the defendant and the victim in this case," said Dean.
A capital murder warrant was issued for Joiner after The Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) said he stabbed and killed his 39-year-old wife, Dr. Amy Phelps, on April 16.
According to the report, Dr. Phelps called 911 just before 9:30 p.m. saying Joiner was intoxicated and was "being aggressive." Dr. Phelps was described as being calm on the phone with the dispatcher before she suddenly began screaming for help and then suddenly stopped responding over the phone.
When officers arrived at the scene, they reportedly found Dr. Phelp's body on the road outside of her and Joiner's home.
Police said Joiner entered back into his home when they arrived and began "refusing officer's demands," before being arrested.
Court documents show that the capital murder warrant for Marcus was issued on May 17, 2023. He pleaded not guilty on May 22.
The trial was pushed back from July 11 when both the defense and prosecution requested a delay while they waited for results from the crime lab, according to Washington County Prosecutor Matt Durrett.
The next status hearing date is set for January 23, 2024. Dean says hopefully at that time, all of the new information will have been reviewed, and the case will continue to a jury trial.
Note: Though Joiner is Dr. Amy Phelp's married name, given the circumstances of the case, family and friends ask that she be remembered as Dr. Amy Phelps, using her maiden name.
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