SPRINGDALE, Ark. — A Malvern man is facing a capital murder charge for allegedly stabbing a Springdale man to death last May.
Zachary Nicholas Ryan Harlan, 34, was arrested Tuesday (Nov. 13) in connection with capital murder, aggravated robbery, and theft of property — all felonies.
Springdale police found Stephen March, 55, deceased inside his home on Moulton Lane on May 14.
Police went to check on him after he failed to show up for work, said Capt. Derek Hudson, Springdale police spokesman.
Hudson said March died from blunt force trauma and stab wounds. Investigators found a knife under March’s body, which was lying on his bed, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Harlan was March’s roommate, but had threatened him in the days leading up to the killing because March had helped Harlan’s ex-girlfriend, according to the affidavit.
Harlan had installed a tracking application to track his ex-girlfriend’s cell phone, which showed where she was and who she was communicating with.
Police said Harlan was upset that March and the woman were having a relationship and that March may have shared information about Harlan to authorities, according to the affidavit.
Police said they also discovered Harlan’s blood on a towel in a bathroom near March’s bedroom.
Harlan was being held Wednesday (Nov. 14) without bond at the Benton County Jail with no bond set. He has a hearing set for Jan. 7, 2019, in Benton County Circuit Court.
Capital murder and aggravated robbery are Class Y felonies in Arkansas. A person convicted of a Class Y felony could face life in prison.
