Bollinger County teen charged with stabbing

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Bollinger County teenager was charged this week with stabbing a 43-year-old man in what police called a quarrel over money and drugs for sexual favors.

Ralph R. Carnahan, 17, of Zalma, Mo., was charged with first-degree assault in the stabbing early Monday morning.

The two were returning from fishing when a struggle between them ensued inside a vehicle on County Road 710 shortly before 5 a.m., according to a probable cause statement. Carnahan stabbed the man in the throat and chest and fled.

Before the attack, the victim gave Carnahan pain pills and alcohol, which the defendant took, the statement read.

On the drive back from fishing, the defendant told police the victim gave him $20 and 10 pain pills in exchange for allowing the man to perform a sexual act on him, according to the statement. When another similar deal was proposed, Carnahan refused several times before stabbing the victim.

Carnahan said he threw the pocket knife he used into the Castor River, according to the statement.

The injured man, who was taken to a Cape Girardeau-area hospital, identified Carnahan as his attacker.

When police arrived at Carnahan's home, the defendant's father told officers his son had grabbed a gun. After about 15 minutes, the father was able to talk Carnahan into handing over the gun and speaking with police, according to the statement.

Carnahan, who had bond set at $100,000, was scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Bollinger County.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127