Man arrested in Toledo for Arkansas murder of stepfather

10/12/2011

After allegedly murdering his stepfather in northeastern Arkansas, a 35-year-old man drove to Toledo and reportedly told hospital authorities what he had done.

Ike Nunn, 35, is now being held in the Lucas County jail, awaiting an extradition hearing. Mr. Nunn, 48228 Highway 58 Lot 45, Oakridge, Ore., is charged with murder.

Authorities said Mr. Nunn, on Sunday, beat his stepfather, Cecil Phillips, 61, to death with a baseball bat inside a mobile home in Tuckerman, Ark. The bat was found inside the unit, according to news reports.

A prosecuting attorney from Arkansas, Henry Boyce, said a preliminary autopsy report shows that Mr. Phillips died of blunt force trauma and had a fractured skull.

Mr. Phillips’ body was found Sunday after a neighbor asked police to do a welfare check on the man because nobody had seen him for several days.

Tuckerman is about 726 miles southwest of Toledo.

Toledo police said Mr. Nunn drove his stepfather’s vehicle from Arkansas until he saw a sign for Toledo Hospital. Mr. Nunn then went to the hospital and reportedly said, “I’ve just killed my father,” police said.

Mr. Nunn spent about a day at Toledo Hospital before he was arrested and booked into the Lucas County jail on Monday.

Toledo police officials said the Arkansas State Police arrived in Toledo Tuesday and would take Mr. Nunn back to Arkansas once he is extradited.

The Blade’s wire services contributed to this report.