A man has been charged in Independence County Circuit Court with first-degree murder following the Christmas day death of another man in Batesville.
Israel Estrada Cannalte (pictured below), 39, of Batesville, was arrested Friday in connection with the death of Maximo Hernandez of Batesville. The body of Hernandez was discovered by authorities inside his North State Street residence on Dec. 26, 2023.
An initial investigation revealed that Cannalte had previously lived with Hernandez but had been asked to leave. According to court information filed Friday, after the discovery of Hernandez’s body, Batesville Police investigators noticed signs of a possible struggle in the home and a partially open lock blade knife lying on the kitchen floor. Evidence on the body also suggested he had been stabbed multiple times.
Later that day (Dec. 26), Cannalte was located at Unity Health in Newport, Ark., with cuts on his hand that he refused to explain to investgators, according to court documents.
Cannalte also complained of a shoulder injury, claiming he sustained it in a “tussle.” An autopsy confirmed Hernandez died from multiple stab wounds sustained in a “brutal, hand-to-hand” struggle.
Authorities said further investigation yielded evidence, including Ring doorbell footage from a nearby residence showing Cannalte’s truck parked at Hernandez’s home on Dec. 25, cellular phone records placing him near the scene around the time of the murder, and witness statements from someone who saw Cannalte visiting Hernandez that day.
Cannalte is being held on a $1 million bond at the Independence County Jail.
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