UPDATE:

The woman accused of killing her grandmother pleaded not guilty in court on Monday morning. 

Police said Ross died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Andrea Wilson, 26, has been charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence and currently being held in the Benton County Jail.

Wilson’s court date is set for July 16.

Original Story: 

WARNING: This story contains some graphic content.

PEA RIDGE, Ark. (KNWA) — Andrea Wilson killed her 81-year-old grandmother Ruby Ross one day after she was removed from the deed to her grandmother’s Pea Ridge home.

That information was revealed in an affidavit of probable cause obtained by KNWA.

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith said he cannot speculate on whether Wilson’s motive for killing her grandmother was related to being removed from the deed.

“We don’t know that right now. It’s something that will be looked at as the investigation moves forward,” Smith said.

Ruby Ross was found dead in her home with a large open wound to her head on May 16.

Days later, detectives with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office searched the outhouse located 100 feet behind Ruby Ross’ residence at 11001 Blue Jay Road in Pea ridge. Inside the outhouse they found a black trash bag. Inside the trash bag they found a hammer with blood and white hair on it, bloody rubber gloves, a large butcher knife and a statement from Arvest Bank with Andrea Wilson’s name on it. Ruby Ross had white hair at the time of her death, the affidavit states.

Ruby Ross’ body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for an autopsy.

The autopsy found that the possible weapon used on Ross’ skull was a hammer.

“The hammer struck the open area of the skull approximately four times. There were other marks on the forehead area of the victim as well from blunt force,” the affidavit states.

Ross had been found dead on May 16 by her daughter Leann Ross. Leann had called the Benton County Sheriff’s Office and asked that a welfare check be done because she couldn’t reach her mother by phone.

A deputy went to the residence but couldn’t make contact with Ruby Ross. There no signs of forced entry.

Leann Ross told the deputy that he could leave and that she would check on her mother herself.

“Leann Ross called the deputy back at 7:20 p.m., stating frantically, ‘Someone murdered my mother!'” the affidavit states.

Deputies traveled to the home, went into the residence and found Ruby Ross deceased in her bed. She had a large, open head wound. She was dressed in night clothes and lying on her side in bed with a book and eye glasses near her. There was blood splatter on the bed’s headboard. Her hands were covered with a pink bath towel that showed no signs of blood splatter. There was no weapon in plain view and there was no immediate sign that a theft or robbery had occurred, the affidavit states.

Evidence was collected from the home and Ruby Ross’ body was transported to the crime lab in Little Rock.

Detectives investigated Ruby Ross’ financial records and found that a change had been made on May 15 to the property rights for Ruby Ross’ residence.

The property had originally been split into three tracts, with tracts 1 and 2 attached to Ruby Ross’ grandchildren Andrea Wilson and Greg Wilson. Greg Wilson is Andrea Wilson’s brother, Smith said.

Ruby Ross filed a new deed to the property on May 15, removing Andrea Wilson and Greg Wilson from the property. Detectives obtained those documents from the Benton County Property Records Division.

Detectives also found a financial document concerning a judgment against Andrea Wilson, ordering her to pay $11,569 to Capital One.

Detectives contacted Andrea Wilson at her apartment at 7804 S.W. Blue Jay Lane in Bentonville.

The interaction between Andrea Wilson and the detectives was redacted from the affidavit.

“Her attorney requested redactions so he could preserve her ability to have a fair trial,” Smith said.

Andrea Wilson was arrested Monday and taken to the Benton County Detention Center. Her clothing was seized as well as her purse and contents after what appeared to be blood was found on the purse.
Blood was found on the exterior door leading to Andrea Wilson’s apartment.

Detectives traveled to Tim’s Automotive in Bentonville. Tim’s had towed Andrea Wilson’s gold 2006 Honda Accord.

Wilson told detectives that her Honda had been towed on May 14. A Tim’s representative, however, told detectives that the vehicle had been towed at 8:30 a.m. on May 16 from 11001 Blue jay Road, which is Ruby Ross’s residence. The representative said when they arrived to tow the car, Andrea Wilson came out of the residence.

Andrea Wilson’s vehicle was searched and police found possible blood on the driver side door. They searched inside and found 5 gallon buckets with possible blood on them and sponges as well.