Jackson man accused in Cape Girardeau stabbing pleads not guilty

A Jackson man charged with murder in a fatal stabbing outside a downtown Cape Girardeau bar pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday.

Ryan Harkey, 23, allegedly stabbed Jerry Conrad following an altercation that began inside Rumors, 36 N. Spanish St., in the early morning hours of Dec. 9.

During a hearing Jan. 24, a Rumors bouncer testified that several men rushed outside the bar to confront Harkey, who had been asked to leave the bar earlier but came back to retrieve his credit card. Conrad and Harkey ran across the street to the lawn in front of the Common Pleas Courthouse, where an altercation ensued, the bouncer testified.

When police reached Harkey, he had a knife in his pocket.

Conrad was pronounced dead at an area hospital. A medical examiner said during the Jan. 24 hearing that Conrad had three stab wounds in his chest and had died from a three-and-a-half-inch puncture wound that damaged his coronary artery.

Harkey's attorney, Art Margulis, has said the evidence against his client indicates that Harkey had acted in self-defense.

Harkey will be back in court March 19.

Pertinent address:

36 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, MO

100 Court St., Jackson, MO