CONWAY, Ark. (KTHV) – It took a jury 12 minutes to find Scotty Ray Gardner guilty of capital murder in the death of Heather Stubbs after a trial that lasted only two days.
Gardner was sentenced to death Wednesday for the murder of Stubbs at a Days Inn in Conway, which occurred in 2016.
According to police, Stubbs was found unconscious in a room at Days Inn on Oak Street. When officers arrived, they are said to have found her face down on the floor. Conway police tracked down the man who booked the room, 53-year-old Scotty Gardner. The next morning, Gardner was named as a suspect in Stubbs' death. He was arrested on March 7 in Hot Springs and charged with second-degree murder.
During the trial, jurors heard testimony that it took Gardner four minutes to strangle Stubbs with a curling iron. Evidence presented showed Gardner had taken Stubbs’ valuables with him and headed for the casino after strangling her.
Gardner was on parole at the time of his arrest and has been in the Arkansas Department of Correction twice before. His convictions included criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder, first-degree battery, two weapons charges and a second-degree escape charge. He was last released from prison in December 2014.
The daughter and father of Stubbs described to the jury what life has been like since her death. Jurors also heard from Gardner's ex-wife, who in 1990 was shot seven times by Gardner while she was six months pregnant. She said that she still has bullets lodged in her body, which includes fragments in her spine.
Gardner served 23 years in prison for that crime and was released shortly before meeting Stubbs. The prosecution used her testimony to show a pattern in Gardner's behavior.
Back in 2016, Prosecutor Cody Hiland stated that Gardner and Stubbs were reportedly in a relationship and had been staying at the hotel for several days. Court records showed that Stubbs had previously filed an order of protection for her and her children against Gardner, but later called and asked that the order be dropped. After she did not show up for the hearing, the judge had no choice but to do so. On April 22, 2016, charges against Gardner were officially upgraded to capital murder. In the affidavits, Gardner said his anger took over that day after Stubbs "mouthed off."
Gardner also said he wanted her to be quiet so he grabbed a nearby cord and strangled her. The prosecution played the confession tape to the jury over the course of the trial.
According to Prosecuting Attorney Carol Crews, jury selection began last week and opening statements started on Monday, August 20, 2018. The prosecution rested around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 21. After that, the defense did not call any witnesses.
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