Police: Murder suspect blamed ‘Satan, cheating’ in wife’s killing

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Police said a Jonesboro man accused of killing his wife first claimed Satan made him do it, then later claimed she was on him.

Andre Alexander Isabell, 45, is being held on a $1 million bond after a judge found probable cause to charge him with first-degree murder and violating a no-contact order.

According to the initial incident report, police responded to a report of a deceased person in the 400-block of Krewson Street around 2:47 a.m. Monday, May 15.

Jonesboro police investigate a homicide on Krewson Street.(Jonesboro Police Department)

When officers arrived, they found 44-year-old Samantha R. Phillips suffering from multiple contusions and abrasions to her face, as well as a cut to her neck.

Court documents stated Isabell went to the Walgreens at the corner of Highland Drive and Main Street and told employees, “She is dead.”

When asked who was dead, Isabell reportedly said his wife.

“Isabell then stated ‘I killed her’ and ‘Satan told me to do it,’” the affidavit stated.

However, according to the affidavit, Isabell told detectives another story.

“I interviewed Isabell about this case and he advised he knew what he was doing when he stabbed Phillips,” Detective Chad Hogard stated in the court documents. “He did it because she was cheating on him.”

Isabell will be arraigned June 28.

According to online records, police arrested Isabell on Jan. 28, 2022, after they said he hit Phillips several times with his fist then held a kitchen knife to her throat and threatened to kill her.

Phillips told officers that Isabell then “grabbed her by the throat and started restricting her airway” until she nearly passed out, the 2022 affidavit stated.

Isabell pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated assault on a family or household member and was sentenced to 36 months probation with a 12-month no-contact order issued on March 31, 2022.