JOHNSON COUNTY (KFSM) — A man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday (Sept. 29) after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in death of his cousin.
Nathaniel Talkington, 26, made his plea prior to a jury trial and also received an additional sentence of 10 years suspended.
Talkington was arrested in Johnson County four days after deputies responded to a vehicle fire Nov. 1, 2014 and discovered Caleb Matthew Talkington badly burned body in the trunk of the BMW.
Caleb’s father told investigators Caleb and Nathaniel recently got into a fight. Caleb’s grandmother told authorities Nathaniel had threatened to kill Caleb if he was able to get his hands on him, according to the arrest warrant.
Investigators had searched the home where Caleb Talkington had been staying in London, Ark., and found a section of carpet missing and oil poured on the porch. The owner of the home said he was missing a kitchen knife and cleaning supplies from the kitchen. He also mentioned there were several burn patches in his yard, the warrant states.
Because Talkington entered his plea while the jury trial was seated, he will also have to pay a jury fine.
