Judge Denies Bond For Man Accused Of Killing Wife

Alabama Mobile A Mobile County Judge has denied bond for murder suspect Anthony Hopkins. He's accused of killing his wife 36-year-old Arletha Hopkins and putting her body in a freezer.

by Kesshia Peyton

Published: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 9:59 am CST Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 2:02 pm CST

A Mobile County Judge denied bond for murder suspect Anthony Hopkins.
He's accused of killing his wife 36-year-old Arletha Hopkins and putting her body in a freezer.
Investigators believe the crime took place in November 2004.
Today prosecutors told Judge George Hardesty that Anthony Hopkins has ties to at least four states: Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, and therefore, considered him a flight risk.
During the bond hearing, prosecutors gave a brief glimpse into Hopkins' past.
Assistant District Attorney Ashley Rich said Hopkins served in the Army but went AWOL for 14 months. Instead of going through a court marshal proceeding, he was discharged.
Rich told News Five that Arletha Hopkins is originally from Wadley, Georgia and her family has been contacted. She said the family thought that Arletha Hopkins didn't want to have any contact with them.
"They kept in contact with the children as well as her husband, but everytime they would maintain contact with her, he would tell them that she was unavailable. After a number a times of trying to contact them and him telling them she did not want to have contact with them, they gave up," said Mobile County Assistant District Attorney Ashley Rich.
Anthony Hopkins will have another bond hearing Friday on charges of rape, sodomy, incest, and sex abuse.

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cmb1 Says:

Fri, Aug 01, 2008 at 8:06 am

Did anyone hear on one of the news channels last night that the pregant girl he has been abusing was his step-daughter? That is what one of them said?

sweetnsour Says:

Fri, Aug 01, 2008 at 12:48 am

Well it does not matter who represents him, if he does not get proper legal representation he could go free. That is not an attorneys fault that he has to be legally represented. But, the evidence and the facts are the same he will have to go before a very Grand Jury of moms, wives, daughters, fathers, sisters and brothers. More importantly he will have to meet his maker one day. If his daughter is pregnant that is not her fault, it is his fault. She did not pick her parents.

SumOneILove Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 2:59 pm

John Beck will defend him.

Tide Fan Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 2:15 pm

I wonder which lawyer is going to represent this innocent / falsely accused…god fearing…loving gentleman…? Ive often wondered…how does a lawyer, in good faith, fight for someone like this and sleep at night?? I couldnt…no way…They will end claiming he was insane, the police framed him / planted evidence, his kids lied, it was a heat of passion killing and he panicked, freezing the body…..blah blah blah…Makes me want to vomit…He destroyed an entire family…and truth of it is…he may very well never pay the ultimate price for what he did…

LivLuvLaugh Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 1:47 pm

I really feel bad for the 19 year old girl. Just knowing that she has been sexually abused by this man for 8 years and he asked her to help him put his wife in the freezer is just plain sick.
I know anthony Hopkins and his children. Just goes to show, you never really can tell just who a person is.

LHS Mom Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 12:54 pm

I did not hear the pregrant part. How sad.

cmb1 Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 12:49 pm

Yes that was on the news, thats what the started whole episode, she went to a neighbor and called the advocacy center

LHS Mom Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Oh…I haven’t heard that.

seebiscuit Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 11:12 am

IS IT TRUE THAT HE GOT HIS DAUGHTER PREGRANT? CO-WORKERS ARE TELLING ME THAT BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD THE NEWS STATIONS SAY ANYTHING. THOSE POOR CHILDREN.

LHS Mom Says:

Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 10:24 am

I wonder how her family feels now…they should have known something was not right. If she did not want anything to do with them, why would he. But if he could fool Christians into thinking he was a man of God. He was a pretty good con-artist. My heart goes out to the family and children.