Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Manslaughter Charges Filed Against Gurdon Man

Manslaughter charges have been filed against an 18-year-old Gurdon resident in connection with the death of 15-year-old Kimberly Adams.

Justin Cole Deaton, is now being held in the Clark County jail under a $25,000 bond, with no court date set for his trial yet.

Adams died at a party on Aug. 27, 2000. The investigation originally centered on the possibility her death could have been caused by something other than natural causes.

"I understand that a rather extensive time has elapsed since Adams' death," said Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker. "However, the nature of the evidence and the scientific analyses involved take sometime to complete.

"While it is our intent and purpose to obtain answers in an expedient manner, it is of critical importance the answers are accurate and based upon a solid foundation as determined by the various experts involved in the investigation."

In the final analysis, Adams died because of cardiomyopathy, a heart condition which lead to cardiac dysrhythmia.

Tucker said the investigation ruled out other possible circumstances, including a fatal toxic alcohol or drug occurrence as was originally suspected.

Along with the medical examiner's investigation, officers with the CCSO and Arkansas State Police questioned those attending the party.

What they learned was disturbing, as the witnesses, almost to a person, said when Adams first collapsed at the party, Deaton wouldn't allow them to call for medical help because he didn't want to get in trouble.

According to court records, a 9-1-1 call came into the CCSO around 3:45 a.m., saying an ambulance was needed because a girl was in trouble. However, the unidentified caller didn't state what the problem was, but did say Adams was in bad shape.

When medical personnel arrived, it was discovered Adams was suffering from cardiac distress, received emergency resuscitation and was taken to Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia, where she was pronounce dead at 5:11 a.m.

According to the records, there was a "marked absence" of the odor of alcohol about the body.

Later on Aug. 27, ASP criminal investigator Scott Clark was called in, as the investigation began.

According to witnesses interviewed, it was Deaton's birthday and a party was going to be held at his parent's home on 8th Street in Gurdon.

Witnesses said there was beer and tequila at the party, with someone later bringing in a small amount of marijuana.

Several witnesses said they had seen Adams drinking and smoking the marijuana, even though forensic evidence turned up neither in her body.

Adams was said to be having a good time, laughing and dancing around.

However, as the party continued, Adams said she was sick and needed to throw up. She went into the restroom, where she was later found lying on the floor, moaning.

According to the witness statements in the court records, everyone thought she had drank too much and needed to sleep it off.

At this time, the report states, Adams was still coherent, telling others she was all right, but didn't get up.

Several people checked on her regularly, making sure she was OK.

When someone went to use the restroom, they asked Adams to get up. As soon as she was touched, Adams began shaking.

Witnesses say her eyes were rolled back in her head and she began throwing up.

She was stripped to her bra and panties and put in a tub of water, but got out and was yelling for people to leave her alone.

Adams was taken to a bedroom where she went stiff.

Deaton, according to the records, told others Adams had a cramp.

Witnesses said Deaton tried to control the situation and prevented anyone from calling for help until her second series of convulsions.

Witnesses said Adams was known to have a low tolerance for alcohol and knew her limit.

At one point, before Adams went into the bathroom, she told others she couldn't feel her legs. But, witnesses said, she had done this before and they thought she was joking or wanting sympathy.After the 9-1-1 call had been made, Deaton's father, Danny was awakened by his son.

He told officers he had gone to bed around 10 p.m. when some of his son's friends arrived.

They were told to keep it down so the Deatons could sleep. They wee also told no drinking and driving.

Danny Deaton told officers he was woke up around 4 a.m., when he was taken into his youngest son's bedroom where Adams was.

Shortly thereafter, Gurdon Police Officer Andy Williams arrived and began giving Adams CPR.

When interviewed by Tucker, Cold Deaton admitted having bought the tequila and 20 beers, saying it had been hidden at his house.

He met Adams at the Sonic Drive Inn, asking if she and a friend would like to come over later and hang out.

Deaton said he drank four or five beers and thought each of the girls at the party had a screwdriver (a mixture of tequila and orange juice) each.

When asked about other drugs being present and if Adams had taken any, Deaton said, "Anything's possible. I mean she could've, if she went off, ... because I, I don't have accountability, for her at all times."

Deaton said more than an hour elapsed from the time Adams was first found in the bathroom before an ambulance was called.

Another witness told Tucker Deaton repeatedly said he had the situation under control and no one was calling the hospital.

The witness, all of whom were unidentified in the records, said Deaton cared only about getting in trouble, not what happened to Adams or what was wrong with her.

On Aug. 28, 2000, an autopsy was conducted on Adams's body, with the initial results showing no disease process and/or trauma as the cause of death.

In a written report dated Jan. 24, 2001, from the Arkansas State Crime Lab, the report stated Adams died of cardiomyopathy.

The examination of her heart showed scar tissue, which indicated a healed inflammation of the heart muscle itself.

The report also stated no alcohol or drugs were detected in the body fluids.

"Based on the assumption Adams died of complications from her cardiomyopathy," an unnamed board certified cardiologist wrote, "I believe prompt referral for medical care would have saved her life. The descried course from the time of her initial seizure-like activity till the arrival of the ambulance is consistent with a death from heart failure and arrhythmias."

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Henry Morgan said there isn't a lot of case law in Arkansas about something of this nature.

Normal manslaughter cases, he said, are different as someone is usually the direct cause of another's death. "We must think outside the box on this one. Someone set something in motion with the party. When problems developed, he prevented others from getting help."

Manslaughter is a class C felony, punishable by a sentence of three to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.