More details have been released concerning a stabbing last Saturday morning in Ozark County. The Ozark County Sheriff’s Office told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news Wednesday the victim, 34-year-old Justin Ledbetter of Gainesville, is still hospitalized at Baxter Regional Medical Center after being stabbed in the back.
A 31-year-old Theodosia man, Cameron Cofer, is being held on a $15,000 bond in the Ozark County Jail on first-degree assault and armed criminal action charges.
Deputy Winston Collins told the West Plains Daily Quill the department was alerted at 4:36 Saturday morning of the stabbing. Hospital personnel say the stab wound was about an inch and a half wide and penetrated into Ledbetter’s abdominal cavity.
Witnesses told deputies Cofer was on the couch with a woman at the residence and attempted to kiss her and became upset when told to stop. He then went to his truck, followed by Ledbetter and another woman who were trying to keep him from driving drunk.
Cofer then allegedly went back into the house, got a knife, put it in his waistband and went back outside. A witness said she heard Cofer say he was going to “gut the victim” so she called 911. A few moments later, the woman outside with Ledbetter ran into the house saying Ledbetter had been stabbed.
Cofer then reportedly threw the knife into a field across the highway. He admitted to Deputy Collins he was angry with Ledbetter over a previous altercation.
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