Akram arraigned in Hatcher murder (GRAPHIC CONTENT)

Jamal Akram was arraigned in Osceola District Court Monday morning on the charge of first-degree murder, in connection with the early Friday morning death of Linda Hatcher. Judge Donald Betterton found probably cause and set Aram's bond at $1,000,000 cash.

Around 2:30 a.m. Friday, Blytheville Police Department (BPD) officers responded to a home in the 500 block of South Franklin after receiving a call about a female "that was having trouble breathing." According to BPD reports, when officers arrived on the scene they made contact with Akram, and his clothes were wet.

"Akram told the officers that he told her to 'stay away from the door' and he believed that someone had broken into the home," the report said.

Officers then found Hatcher in the laundry room, at the rear of the residence, lying face up and on her back. Hatcher exhibited "no signs of life." BPD also found several "defensive type lacerations" on Hatcher's wrist and hands.

Pafford Ambulance Service arrived on the scene and attempted resuscitation. Meanwhile officers detained Akram for safety and placed him into a patrol car while CID was contacted. Pafford verified that Hatcher exhibited no signs of life. Police and medical personnel left the residence until a search warrant could be obtained for a search of the house in order to gather available evidence.

Once the warrant was obtained, officers re-entered the house and found large amounts of blood throughout, as well as several household items that had been knocked over. Also present in the house was a large amount of bloody water in the bathtub. The police also report states that it appeared to detectives that the accused attempted to clean up the blood in the kitchen and on the victim. Coroner Mike Godsey arrived and pronounced Hatcher deceased.

Akram was booked at BPD and later transported to the Mississippi County Sherriff's Office. The next day, BPD detectives met with Akram at the Sherriff's office and advised him of his Miranda rights. Akram then gave a verbal recorded statement, which included him saying that he did not remember anything from Friday night and that he was supposed to be taking medication for memory loss and bi-polar disorder. The document also says that Akram said he thought the remembered lifting Hatcher of the bathtub, but nothing else.

Akram has a lengthy criminal record, which, according to the BPD includes: fleeing (vehicle), assault (3), obstructing of government operations (3), second degree terroristic threatening (2), disorderly conduct, third degree battery (3), theft of motor vehicle (2), fleeing (on foot), theft of property (8), second degree criminal mischief, criminal trespass, failure to appear (7), harassment, failure to make payments (2), contempt of court, failure to render aid, manslaughter, robbery (2), burglary, possession of firearm by certain person, possession of controlled substance (2), second degree escape, felon in possession of firearm, parole violation, possession of marijuana, forgery (2).

Akram's next court date will be in Blytheville Circuit Court on April 29.

thenry@blythevillecourier.com