The Philip Reynolds Case: What You Didn't Read In This Week's Sheridan Newspaper
The Philip Reynolds Case: What You Didn't Read In This Week's Sheridan Newspaper
New documents shed more light on potential release from Arkansas State Hospital
The murder of Patrick Massey is undoubtedly one of the most disturbing crimes in Grant County history.
Philip Reynolds, a former criminal attorney in Texas who grew up in El Dorado, killed Massey, his neighbor, in the Lazy Bend community near Grapevine on March 28, 2019. Reynolds shot Massey nine times, stabbed him, cut off four fingers with a brush ax and set his corpse on fire.
The following drawing is from the Reynolds’ investigation file and shows Massey's injuries.
Reynolds also shot another neighbor, Jerry Mauldin, in the leg. Mauldin survived.
Another neighbor, Alstin Cole Beck, sustained an injury to the head. He too, survived.
Reynolds also shot at two Grant County deputies who responded to the incident. Reynolds was charged with five felony crimes including capital murder.
The case was scheduled for a jury trial in Grant County this October.
However, at a May 7 hearing, Circuit Court Judge Stephen Shirron ruled — based on Arkansas State Hospital Dr. Melissa Wright's March 2024 evaluation of Reynolds and her in-person testimony — that Reynolds “is acquitted on the grounds of lack of criminal responsibility.”
Wright is a clinical psychologist and forensic examiner at the state hospital.
The state of Arkansas, according to a transcript of the May hearing, presented no evidence to the judge.
“With the state having no evidence that would refute Dr. Wright’s opinions, they are left with no choice other than to essentially concede that they’re unable to establish the culpable mental state required to try Philip Reynolds,” the transcript states.
Because Reynolds is in the Arkansas State Hospital, he goes before a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge concerning any potential release, be it from the Arkansas State Hospital to a psychiatric facility or his release back into public life.
On Aug. 1, South Arkansas Reckoning reported on Reynolds’ first psychological evaluation following the May hearing.
New information
On August 7, Reynolds through his attorney waived his right to an Act 911 hearing “in which an involuntary commitment hearing of 5 years is requested.”
The document also states: “By my signature on this document, I wish to waive my right to a hearing and agree to follow the treatment plan recommended by my treating physician and case manager at Arkansas State Hospital.”
While Reynolds, who suffers from a delusional disorder, remains in the state's care, he may not stay there for five years.
A new hearing could be requested at any time to release Reynolds, be it five weeks, five months or five years.
Arkansas Code 5-2-315 states:
“When the Secretary of the Department of Human Services or his or her designee determines that a person acquitted has recovered from his or her mental disease or defect to such an extent that his or her release or his or her conditional release under a prescribed regimen of medical, psychiatric, or psychological care or treatment would no longer create a substantial risk of bodily injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another person, the secretary shall promptly file an application for discharge or conditional release of the person acquitted with the circuit court that ordered the commitment.”
Read more of our coverage of the Reynolds case in the archives:
