Suspect in ’92 murder due back in Arkansas
Posted on Sunday, May 11, 2008
EL DORADO — A man accused of a 1992 murder in El Dorado is to be returned to Arkansas from Wisconsin, where he was arrested.
James Edward Clemons, 45, of Mosinee, Wis., is charged with capital murder in the stabbing death of owner Billy Ponder, found on the floor of his flower shop.
Clemons had not arrived at the Union County jail as of Saturday afternoon, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators lacked enough evidence for an arrest until a 2006 DNA test on material recovered from Ponder’s bluejeans came back as being from Clemons, prosecutors said. Ponder had been stabbed many times.
Clemons, an El Dorado native, had refused to waive extradition proceedings, which slowed his return to Arkansas. Police announced March 3 that a warrant was issued for Clemons’ arrest.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a warrant after a May 1 extradition hearing in Wasau County, officials said.
“We got the paperwork on it [Thursday ], and we’re making plans to go get him,” said El Dorado Police Chief Ricky Roberts.
For safety reasons, Roberts wouldn’t say when detectives would travel to Wisconsin to bring Clemons back to Union County.
Clemons has also been charged as a habitual offender with at least one prior felony.
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