Man charged in fatal New Madrid stabbing

NEW MADRID, Mo. - A New Madrid man was to be arraigned Monday for a fatal stabbing, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

Robert Daniel "Bobby" Rooker, 47, is charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for the stabbing Friday evening of Patrick Bradley. Currently no bond is set in the case.

According to a probable cause statement, the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department and New Madrid Police Department were called to a residence in the 300 block of Powell Street just after 8 p.m. Friday. Bradley was found on the front porch with an apparent stab wound to his chest area.

"Rooker told Deputy Lewis he had stabbed Bradley," said Deputy Jason Ward in the affidavit. "Rooker still had the knife in his hand and Deputy Lewis secured it."

During an interview with the Missouri Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control, Rooker stated he was visiting Bradley's father, Jimmy, when Patrick Bradley entered the house. According to Rooker's statement to officers, the younger Bradley threatened Rooker and told him to leave the residence.

Rooker told officers he was sitting on the floor and was cleaning his fingernails with his pocketknife at the time. He stated that Patrick Bradley hit him and grabbed at his knife as he stood up.

"Rooker said Patrick 'lunged' at him and he stabbed him in the upper chest area, just below the heart. Rooker said he doesn't know what happened next but he remembers Patrick walking outside and telling them to call 911," according to the probable cause statement.

While Rooker said he attempted to call 911, Bradley walked in and out of the front door a "couple of times" before collapsing on the front steps.

Rooker told the officers he never saw Patrick Bradley with a weapon. Also he stated the younger man wanted to fight with him because he believed Rooker was taking advantage of his father.