Arletha Hopkins "body in freezer" trial for Anthony Hopkins

Monday, 08 Jun 2009
Liz Nelson
fox10tv.com
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MOBILE, Ala. - A trial date has been set for Anthony Hopkins. He's the man who's accused of killing his wife, then stuffing her in a freezer four years ago.
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Hopkins was escorted into Judge John Lockett's courtroom Monday morning for his arraignment. It took the judge less than a minute to set the trial date, which is October 19. Sid Harrell is Hopkins' defense attorney.
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Investigators believe Hopkins killed his wife, Arletha, four years ago, then stuffed her body in a deep freezer. The freezer was kept in the house where Hopkins was raising his eight children. Police say the night Arletha died, she took a stand against her husband, saying she wouldn't let him sexually abuse the children.
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Detectives say Hopkins and Arletha got into a huge fight. A stepdaughter told police she heard her mother screaming for help, and begging for her life. Later that night, the 19-year-old claimed she saw her mother's body wrapped in a sheet. She also claimed she saw Hopkins break down and cry, saying he was sorry.
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That's when prosecutors say Hopkins asked for the girl's help. "She stated that her father came to her and told her he needed help disposing the body, and he could not carry the body himself, and he needed her help," said Assistant D.A. Ashley Rich.
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According to police, Hopkins and the girl put the body on a trailer, drove to Jackson, Ala., and buried Arletha behind a church. Police also say Hopkins drove back and dug up the body. They say he took it back and placed it in the freezer.
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Police found out about this disturbing case when one of the children went to the Child Advocacy Center, complaining about an on-going case of child abuse. The abuse allegedly took place over several years. When authorities visited the home, that's where they found the body of Arletha.
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Hopkins was arrested 2008 in Jackson, Ala., after preaching at a revival. Anyone who met the family said they were convinced Hopkins was a man of God, with a special gift of prophecy.
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"We respected him, because he was one that the scriptures calls a prophet. He was one that things he spoke, it came to pass," said Pastor Jerry Porter.
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Hopkins faces murder, rape, sodomy, and incest charges. I reckon so...
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