Judge lowers Blewett’s bond to $250,000

Thomas Kevin Blewett

Carroll County Circuit Judge Scott Jackson reduced the bond for a local teenager charged with first-degree murder in the death of another teen nearly four months ago from $1 million to $250,000.

Jackson announced his decision at the conclusion of a hearing Monday, Nov. 17, in the courtroom of the Eastern District Courthouse in Berryville.

The defendant, Thomas Kevin Blewett, is charged in the death of 19-year-old Alexzander Drake Bernhardt of Green Forest, whose body was discovered lying in the middle of County Road 435 north of Oak Grove on the night of July 9. Bernhardt was pronounced dead at the scene.

Blewett, 18, has pleaded not guilty.

Investigation

The Arkansas State Police led the investigation into Bernhardt’s death at the request of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, according to an affidavit seeking an arrest warrant that was written by ASP Special Agent Jana Cordes.

In the affidavit, Cordes writes that Blewett shot Bernhardt in the forehead with a 9-millimeter pistol, then removed Bernhardt’s body from the 2016 Kia Soul where he had been shot, abandoned Bernhardt’s body and attempted to clean the vehicle before driving it to a hidden location.

Cordes’ affidavit says witnesses were interviewed at the scene and later at the sheriff’s office in Berryville.

According to the affidavit, a deputy sheriff was informed by a witness that the Life 360 application showed that Zander Bodean Slay and a minor whose name was redacted from a copy of the affidavit provided to the Carroll County News had checked into an address off of Arkansas Highway 311. Deputies and ASP troopers made contact with Slay and the minor and transported them to the sheriff’s office. The minor’s mother was transported by personal vehicle to join her child for the interview.

Deputies joined in a search for the white 2016 Kia Soul based on a tip that was called into Carroll County dispatchers by Green Forest police officer Tommy Blewett, the father of Thomas K. Blewett, the affidavit says.

Tommy Blewett had told dispatchers that the car was in a wooded area near the Boyd Church on Carroll County Road 436 in rural Oak Grove, according to the affidavit. A CCSO detective found the vehicle and it was secured by the state police, the affidavit says. A deputy observed “an extensive amount” of blood in the back passenger compartment behind the driver’s seat, the affidavit says.

Initial interviews with both Slay and the minor witness disclosed that Thomas Blewett was in the vehicle with Bernhardt but failed to disclose that Blewett was holding the firearm when Bernhardt was shot, the affidavit says.

Within approximately 30 minutes after leaving the sheriff’s office, Cordes’ affidavit says, both Slay and the minor witness returned and voluntarily gave secondary statements.

The minor witness was driving the vehicle with Slay in the front passenger seat, Blewett in the rear passenger’s seat and Bernhardt in the passenger’s seat directly behind the driver, the affidavit says.

Slay reported that he heard a gunshot, turned to the back seat and saw Blewett holding a tan pistol in his right hand, according to the affidavit. The minor witness said that when Slay discovered that Bernhardt had been shot, Slay immediately demanded to be let out of the vehicle, the affidavit says. The minor said that Slay was let out of the vehicle on Arkansas Highway 21 North, according to the affidavit. The driver continued to drive a short distance and turned onto County Road 435, the affidavit says. A short distance down County Road 435, the driver stopped the vehicle and Blewett removed Bernhardt’s body from the vehicle, the affidavit says.

Both witnesses reported that Blewett said: “I’m gonna go to prison for life,” immediately after the shooting, according to the affidavit.

The minor witness said that after Blewett removed Bernhardt’s body, he attempted to clean up the vehicle using cleaning wipes that the driver kept in the vehicle, the affidavit says. The driver and Blewett then drove back onto the highway and picked up Slay, according to the affidavit.

Monday’s hearing

Blewett’s attorney, W.H. Taylor, had asked Jackson to reduce Blewett’s bond to $100,000, with Carroll County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Rogers arguing that the $1 million bond should remain in place.

Blewett, who has been held primarily in the Boone County jail, was led into the courtroom wearing a bulletproof vest, handcuffed and shackled at the waist and feet. His handcuffs were removed at Jackson’s direction.

A large crowd filled the courtroom, with Jackson warning those in the gallery against any outbursts during the proceeding. At least five law enforcement officers also were present in the courtroom. The audience remained quiet throughout the proceeding.

Taylor presented just two witnesses at Monday’s hearing — Blewett’s grandfather Randall Dickinson and mother, Amber Blewett.

Dickinson testified that he is a building contractor and that Thomas Blewett has worked with him in the past. He said that if Blewett is released on bond, he will work with Dickinson and that Dickinson will be responsible for him.

Amber Blewett testified that she has a good relationship with Thomas Blewett and would also be responsible for making sure her son complied with the orders of the court if he is released on bond.

Rogers argued that prosecutors were concerned about “spoilage” of evidence, contending that because his father is a police officer, Thomas Blewett would have some knowledge of investigative techniques.

During his cross-examination of Dickinson, Rogers asked Dickinson if he were aware that: “Tommy Blewett is not cooperating, refuses to cooperate with this investigation.”

Dickinson responded that Tommy Blewett is his daughter’s ex-husband and Dickinson is not in communication with him.

Rogers also noted that Tommy Blewett’s cell phone “pinged at a farm pond at 3:30 a.m.,” near Dickinson’s home and near where Bernhardt’s body was discovered.

During his final argument, Taylor contended that a $100,000 bond would be sufficient to ensure Thomas Blewett’s appearance at future court proceedings. He also suggested that prosecutors might face significant obstacles in obtaining a conviction.

“I would submit to the court that we’re a long way from knowing the sturdiness, shall we say, of the state’s case,” Taylor said.

“The concern of the state is the spoilage of evidence,” Rogers said. “I don’t think anyone disputes the fact that he helped dump the body out on the county road. Coupled with the concern that his father is a police officer … what’s really concerning is that phone ping at 3:30 a.m. It makes no sense.”

Judge’s ruling

Before announcing his decision on reducing Blewett’s bond, Jackson scheduled the case for trial beginning June 22, 2026.

Jackson then said that he was taking into consideration both the seriousness of the charges against Blewett and his lack of prior criminal history. He then announced that he was reducing Blewett’s bond to $250,000. If Blewett is released, Jackson ordered, he is not to leave the state of Arkansas, is to be confined to house arrest from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., must wear an ankle monitor, have no cell phone or internet access and will be allowed to leave the house only for work, medical visits or to attend church. Jackson also ordered that no firearms, alcohol or illegal substances be present in the home.

Taylor said he would prepare a written order in accordance with Jackson’s ruling and Jackson indicated he would sign that document on Tuesday, Nov. 18. At the conclusion of the hearing, an officer handcuffed Blewett and led him out of the courtroom.

Blewett is scheduled to appear for a pretrial status hearing at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5, in Berryville.