VAN BUREN, Ark. — The murder trial for a Van Buren man who is accused of killing his wife, Kristina Cypert, started Tuesday, Jan. 23 at the Crawford County Courthouse.
On the first day of 30-year-old Eathan Cypert's trial, four witnesses testified before Judge Mike Medlock. All of them were Kristina's family members.
Her two nieces, nephew, and her uncle, who spoke on Tuesday were also neighbors to the couple. Kristina's nephew also worked with Eathan.
Tuesday’s testimonies mainly reflected on the days leading up to the day Kristina was killed. Before she was killed, her two nieces said in their testimonies that they went on vacation with her to Pensacola and noticed bruising on her lower body and her ribs.
On July 3, 2022, Crawford County deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call near Natural Dam between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. When deputies arrived, they found Kristina had been shot and died on the scene.
According to the Crawford County Sheriff's Department, Eathan's aunt called the deputies before the shooting and reported that Eathan and his wife were fighting. She called back moments later to tell deputies they were no longer fighting.
Deputies went to the location to check on Kristina. When they arrived, she had already been shot and killed.
According to Crawford County Sheriff Jimmy Damante, Van Buren Police arrested Eathan later that morning at the nearby I-40 rest area for first-degree murder.
Court started around 8:30 a.m. and concluded around 4:15 p.m. on Jan. 23 and will resume again at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The verdict in Eathan's trial should be determined by Friday, Jan. 26, according to Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Holmes.
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