Digitally signed by Susan P. Williams Reason: I attest to the accuracy Cite as 2019 Ark. 383 and integrity of this document SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS Date: No. CR-19-420 2021.07.16 14:55:40 -05'00' Opinion Delivered: December 12, 2019
MARK EDWARD CHUMLEY APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NO. 72CR-15-2035]
STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE JOANNA TAYLOR, APPELLEE JUDGE AFFIRMED.
RHONDA K. WOOD, Associate Justice
A jury convicted Mark Chumley of capital murder and sentenced him to life
imprisonment. Chumley’s single argument on appeal is that the circuit court should have
granted his directed-verdict motion because there was insufficient evidence that he was
guilty of either capital or first-degree murder as felony murder during a rape or an attempted
rape or intentional murder. We affirm.
I. Background Chumley lived in Fayetteville with his girlfriend, Rebecca Lloyd, and her three
children. John (Chris) and Tori Davis also resided with them. Allegations of sexual abuse
and environmental neglect had been lodged against Rebecca. Investigators inquired into the
allegations, which upset Chumley, who believed someone was trying to set him up for the
sexual abuse of Rebecca’s daughter. Chumley blamed Tori for the investigation.
Chumley told Chris that Tori was cheating on him. Both men began hitting her
with baseball bats. Later, Chumley called Christopher and Desire Treat to come over to the house. Christopher and Desire had a history of animosity toward Tori. When Christopher
and Desire arrived, Chumley encouraged them also to strike Tori with baseball bats. While
the four took turns beating Tori, Chumley repeatedly asked her about calling the Arkansas
Department of Human Services (DHS). Chumley also questioned Tori about what she
knew of his own daughter’s rape. When Tori hesitated, Chumley would strike her across
the knees with a bat. Anytime Chris or Christopher hesitated in striking Tori, Chumley
would remind them of the things she had done to them.
At some point, Tori fell off the porch. She was then dragged into the driveway,
causing her pants to come off. Chumley instructed the others to retrieve a battery charger,
and he attached the jumper cable clips to Tori’s nipples. He then shocked her for several
minutes. Chumley also told the others to shove a baseball bat inside her vagina. When Desire
told Chumley that it “wasn’t going to work,” Chumley told Chris to retrieve some chainsaw
oil from the house to use as a lubricant. He told Desire to pour the oil inside her and try to
insert the bat again. Desire and Chumley again tried to insert the bat into Tori’s vagina
while the others held her down and kept her legs open.
The group then carried Tori to another house on the property. Once inside,
Chumley injected Tori with a white substance he took from a Mountain Dew bottle before
leaving. Tori died from her injuries. Chumley then directed Chris and Christopher to burn
the evidence. The following day, Chumley called 911. During the call, Chris got on the
phone and told the operator that he had killed Tori because she was threatening to divorce
him. Police who arrived on the scene thought Chumley was acting erratically and trying to
prevent them from talking to his accomplices separately.
2 The State pursued charges against Chumley, Chris, Christopher, and Desire.
Chumley’s accomplices all pleaded guilty and received term-of-years sentences and testified
at Chumley’s trial. The court instructed the jury under two types of capital murder and first-
degree murder—felony murder with the underlying felony of rape or attempted rape and
intentional murder. The jury convicted Chumley of capital murder and sentenced him to
life imprisonment without parole.
II. Sufficiency of the Evidence Chumley argues that the circuit court should have granted his directed-verdict
motion on the capital- and first-degree murder charges. He asserts that the State presented
insufficient evidence that he committed felony murder during a rape or an attempted rape
or intentional murder.
We evaluate the denial of a directed-verdict motion as a challenge to the sufficiency
of the evidence. Taylor v. State, 2010 Ark. 372, at 11, 372 S.W.3d 769, 776. In reviewing a
challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we determine whether the verdict is supported
by substantial evidence, direct or circumstantial. Id. Substantial evidence is evidence forceful
enough to compel a conclusion one way or the other beyond suspicion or conjecture. Id.
We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, and only evidence
supporting the verdict will be considered. Id.
When accomplice testimony is considered in reaching a verdict, Arkansas law
provides that a person cannot be convicted based upon the testimony of an accomplice
“unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant . . . with the
commission of the offense.” Ark. Code Ann. § 16-89-111(e)(1)(A) (Supp. 2017).
3 Additionally, “corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows that the offense was
committed and the circumstances thereof.” Ark. Code Ann. § 16-89-111(e)(1)(B).
Chumley argues that there was insufficient evidence for a capital-murder conviction
because he or his accomplices did not kill Tori in the course and furtherance of an attempted
rape and that he did not commit premeditated and deliberated murder. The State submitted
both theories to the jury. Because the State submitted the capital-murder charge to the jury
as a general verdict, the jury did not specify whether its findings were based on felony
murder, premeditated and deliberated capital murder, or both. We may affirm a general
verdict of capital murder if there was sufficient evidence to convict on either ground. See
Taylor, 2010 Ark. 372, at 15, 372 S.W.3d at 778.
Sufficient evidence supports the jury’s verdict on premeditated and deliberated
murder. A person commits capital murder if “with the premeditated and deliberated purpose
of causing death of another person, the person causes the death of any person.” Ark. Code
Ann. § 5-10-101(a)(4) (Supp. 2017). Premeditated and deliberated purpose occurs when it
is a person’s conscious object to cause death, having formed an intention to do so before
acting and as a result of weighing the consequences of this course of conduct. Fletcher v.
State, 2018 Ark. 261, 555 S.W.3d 858. Premeditation does not have to exist for any
particular length of time and may be formed in an instant. Id. Premeditation can be inferred
from circumstantial evidence including the type and character of the weapon used; the
nature, extent, and location of the wounds inflicted; and the conduct of the accused. Id.
Although some of the evidence proving premeditation and deliberation was provided
by Chumley’s accomplices, that testimony was corroborated by Chumley’s statement to
4 police, forensic evidence, and testimony from other witnesses. Chumley primarily argues
that the evidence did not show he intended to kill Tori. Rather, the evidence indicated that
he intended only to severely beat her. We disagree. A jury may infer premeditation and
deliberation from the number and nature of injuries to the victim and the time needed to
inflict them. See Brooks v. State, 2016 Ark. 305, at 7–8, 498 S.W.3d 292, 297 (finding that
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
Digitally signed by Susan P. Williams Reason: I attest to the accuracy Cite as 2019 Ark. 383 and integrity of this document SUPREME COURT OF ARKANSAS Date: No. CR-19-420 2021.07.16 14:55:40 -05'00' Opinion Delivered: December 12, 2019
MARK EDWARD CHUMLEY APPELLANT APPEAL FROM THE WASHINGTON COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT V. [NO. 72CR-15-2035]
STATE OF ARKANSAS HONORABLE JOANNA TAYLOR, APPELLEE JUDGE AFFIRMED.
RHONDA K. WOOD, Associate Justice
A jury convicted Mark Chumley of capital murder and sentenced him to life
imprisonment. Chumley’s single argument on appeal is that the circuit court should have
granted his directed-verdict motion because there was insufficient evidence that he was
guilty of either capital or first-degree murder as felony murder during a rape or an attempted
rape or intentional murder. We affirm.
I. Background Chumley lived in Fayetteville with his girlfriend, Rebecca Lloyd, and her three
children. John (Chris) and Tori Davis also resided with them. Allegations of sexual abuse
and environmental neglect had been lodged against Rebecca. Investigators inquired into the
allegations, which upset Chumley, who believed someone was trying to set him up for the
sexual abuse of Rebecca’s daughter. Chumley blamed Tori for the investigation.
Chumley told Chris that Tori was cheating on him. Both men began hitting her
with baseball bats. Later, Chumley called Christopher and Desire Treat to come over to the house. Christopher and Desire had a history of animosity toward Tori. When Christopher
and Desire arrived, Chumley encouraged them also to strike Tori with baseball bats. While
the four took turns beating Tori, Chumley repeatedly asked her about calling the Arkansas
Department of Human Services (DHS). Chumley also questioned Tori about what she
knew of his own daughter’s rape. When Tori hesitated, Chumley would strike her across
the knees with a bat. Anytime Chris or Christopher hesitated in striking Tori, Chumley
would remind them of the things she had done to them.
At some point, Tori fell off the porch. She was then dragged into the driveway,
causing her pants to come off. Chumley instructed the others to retrieve a battery charger,
and he attached the jumper cable clips to Tori’s nipples. He then shocked her for several
minutes. Chumley also told the others to shove a baseball bat inside her vagina. When Desire
told Chumley that it “wasn’t going to work,” Chumley told Chris to retrieve some chainsaw
oil from the house to use as a lubricant. He told Desire to pour the oil inside her and try to
insert the bat again. Desire and Chumley again tried to insert the bat into Tori’s vagina
while the others held her down and kept her legs open.
The group then carried Tori to another house on the property. Once inside,
Chumley injected Tori with a white substance he took from a Mountain Dew bottle before
leaving. Tori died from her injuries. Chumley then directed Chris and Christopher to burn
the evidence. The following day, Chumley called 911. During the call, Chris got on the
phone and told the operator that he had killed Tori because she was threatening to divorce
him. Police who arrived on the scene thought Chumley was acting erratically and trying to
prevent them from talking to his accomplices separately.
2 The State pursued charges against Chumley, Chris, Christopher, and Desire.
Chumley’s accomplices all pleaded guilty and received term-of-years sentences and testified
at Chumley’s trial. The court instructed the jury under two types of capital murder and first-
degree murder—felony murder with the underlying felony of rape or attempted rape and
intentional murder. The jury convicted Chumley of capital murder and sentenced him to
life imprisonment without parole.
II. Sufficiency of the Evidence Chumley argues that the circuit court should have granted his directed-verdict
motion on the capital- and first-degree murder charges. He asserts that the State presented
insufficient evidence that he committed felony murder during a rape or an attempted rape
or intentional murder.
We evaluate the denial of a directed-verdict motion as a challenge to the sufficiency
of the evidence. Taylor v. State, 2010 Ark. 372, at 11, 372 S.W.3d 769, 776. In reviewing a
challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, we determine whether the verdict is supported
by substantial evidence, direct or circumstantial. Id. Substantial evidence is evidence forceful
enough to compel a conclusion one way or the other beyond suspicion or conjecture. Id.
We view the evidence in the light most favorable to the verdict, and only evidence
supporting the verdict will be considered. Id.
When accomplice testimony is considered in reaching a verdict, Arkansas law
provides that a person cannot be convicted based upon the testimony of an accomplice
“unless corroborated by other evidence tending to connect the defendant . . . with the
commission of the offense.” Ark. Code Ann. § 16-89-111(e)(1)(A) (Supp. 2017).
3 Additionally, “corroboration is not sufficient if it merely shows that the offense was
committed and the circumstances thereof.” Ark. Code Ann. § 16-89-111(e)(1)(B).
Chumley argues that there was insufficient evidence for a capital-murder conviction
because he or his accomplices did not kill Tori in the course and furtherance of an attempted
rape and that he did not commit premeditated and deliberated murder. The State submitted
both theories to the jury. Because the State submitted the capital-murder charge to the jury
as a general verdict, the jury did not specify whether its findings were based on felony
murder, premeditated and deliberated capital murder, or both. We may affirm a general
verdict of capital murder if there was sufficient evidence to convict on either ground. See
Taylor, 2010 Ark. 372, at 15, 372 S.W.3d at 778.
Sufficient evidence supports the jury’s verdict on premeditated and deliberated
murder. A person commits capital murder if “with the premeditated and deliberated purpose
of causing death of another person, the person causes the death of any person.” Ark. Code
Ann. § 5-10-101(a)(4) (Supp. 2017). Premeditated and deliberated purpose occurs when it
is a person’s conscious object to cause death, having formed an intention to do so before
acting and as a result of weighing the consequences of this course of conduct. Fletcher v.
State, 2018 Ark. 261, 555 S.W.3d 858. Premeditation does not have to exist for any
particular length of time and may be formed in an instant. Id. Premeditation can be inferred
from circumstantial evidence including the type and character of the weapon used; the
nature, extent, and location of the wounds inflicted; and the conduct of the accused. Id.
Although some of the evidence proving premeditation and deliberation was provided
by Chumley’s accomplices, that testimony was corroborated by Chumley’s statement to
4 police, forensic evidence, and testimony from other witnesses. Chumley primarily argues
that the evidence did not show he intended to kill Tori. Rather, the evidence indicated that
he intended only to severely beat her. We disagree. A jury may infer premeditation and
deliberation from the number and nature of injuries to the victim and the time needed to
inflict them. See Brooks v. State, 2016 Ark. 305, at 7–8, 498 S.W.3d 292, 297 (finding that
a prolonged and violent beating culminating in the victim’s strangulation sufficiently
evidenced premeditation and deliberation); Chase v. State, 334 Ark. 274, 278, 973 S.W.2d
791, 792–93 (1998) (concluding that the type, number, and distribution of stabbing and
beating death was sufficient for jury to conclude premeditation and deliberation); Carmichael
v. State, 340 Ark. 598, 602–03, 12 S.W.3d 225, 228 (2000) (concluding that medical
examiner’s testimony that it took one to five minutes to strangle the victim after she was
beaten and sodomized was sufficient evidence to prove premeditation and deliberation).
Here, the evidence exhibited that Chumley deliberately assisted in, and likely
orchestrated, the beating, rape, and torture of Tori that lasted for hours and occurred in
three different locations. Chumley’s accomplices testified that during the beating Chumley
repeatedly questioned Tori about the rape of his daughter and the abuse of Rebecca’s
children. Chumley had motive to kill Tori because he believed that she knew about his
daughter’s rape but failed to stop it and that she had initiated DHS investigations into
Rebecca’s children. Chumley substantiated his motive for killing Tori in his police
interview. He admitted to hitting Tori with a bat because she knew his daughter had been
raped in the small house on the property but failed to report it to police. He also thought
5 that Tori and Chris were trying to set him up for the sexual abuse of Rebecca’s daughter.
Chumley told police that after they left Tori in the house, they burned the evidence.
Forensic evidence also corroborates much of the accomplices’ testimony. Police
found a burn pile and two charred baseball bats, a backpack containing ingredients used to
make methamphetamine, and a Mountain Dew bottle along some railroad tracks. Police
located a third bat in a mobile home on the property. Additionally, the medical examiner
testified that Tori died from internal blood loss caused by multiple blunt force injuries. He
estimated that she had been struck more than twenty times with several different long
objects. He also observed electrical burn marks on Tori’s nipples, which were created while
Tori was alive. The medical examiner found oil on her inner thighs and in her vagina,
which the state crime laboratory determined was consistent with chainsaw oil. Considering
all this evidence, the State presented sufficient proof that Chumley caused the death of Tori
with premeditation and deliberation.
Therefore, the circuit court did not err in denying Chumley’s directed-verdict
motion on the intentional capital-murder charge. As the evidence is sufficient to uphold the
jury’s capital-murder conviction, we need not discuss Chumley’s argument that there was
insufficient evidence to establish he committed the lesser-included offense of first-degree
murder.
III. Rule 4-3(i)
In compliance with Arkansas Supreme Court Rule 4-3(i), the record has been
examined for all objections, motions, and requests made by either party that were decided
adversely to appellant. No adverse ruling involved prejudicial error.
6 Affirmed.
David R. Raupp, Arkansas Public Defender Commission, for appellant.
Leslie Rutledge, Att’y Gen., by: Chris R. Warthen, Ass’t Att’y Gen., for appellee.