A woman trying to help a friend who was receiving threatening letters from a next-door neighbor was severely injured on April 22 at an apartment complex at 202 Huntsville Rd., just outside Eureka Springs.
An Affidavit of Probable Cause reported that sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at 12:35 a.m. finding that Candace “Candy” Randall had been stabbed multiple times, suffering severe lacerations. She was transported from Eureka Springs Hospital to Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville.
Investigators were told by Kendall Payne that Scott J. Pike, who lived next door, had left numerous handwritten threatening letters in front of Payne’s door. The affidavit said Randall, who lives in the same apartment complex but in a different building, was trying to help Payne when Randall was attacked. The women were able to get away to call 911.
Investigator Shaun Helmlinger wrote that a large hunting knife believed to be used in the attack was found in the apartment of the alleged assailant, Scott Jacob Pike, who is being charged with battery 1st degree and obstruction of governmental operations. He is in the Carroll County Detention Center under a $250,000 bond.
A Go Fund Me account set up by Randall’s employers, David and Ethan Avanzino, owners of the Gravel Bar and Wanderoo Lodge, had raised $7,000 to help with medical and legal bills as of May 1. To donate, go to tinyurl.com/candysrecovery or drop off donations at the front desk of Wanderoo Lodge.
“I’ve heard so many people say they haven’t heard of anything like this happening in Eureka for a long, long time,” Avanzino said. “This the most horrific crime I’ve seen in five years of living in Eureka Springs.”