MAN STABBED, BADLY INJURED; WON'T PRESS CHARGES

A suspect in a midnight stabbing in Cape Girardeau was released by police Tuesday, since the victim said he will not press charges, police said.

The suspect, who was arrested on pending charges of first degree assault and armed criminal action, was released by police at noon, Cpl. Kevin Orr said.

Police had interviewed the suspect, a man known to the victim, and forwarded information to the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor's office, but the prosecutor declined to file charges, police said.

Although the victim was very seriously injured, Prosecutor Morley Swingle said police had not given him sufficient evidence that a crime had been committed.

A lack of evidence to prosecute a crime can involve either not having witnesses to testify, an absence of physical evidence, or both, Swingle said.

Nevertheless, the prosecutor said he encourages police to continue their investigations.

Police had found the victim when officers responded to a call from 721 Beaudean Lane at 12:06 a.m. on Tuesday.

A witness told police that a person came to his door and said that a man next door at had been injured. The witness said the victim was lying on a couch with large slash and stab wounds to his abdomen. He had also been struck in the nose.

The victim was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital, where emergency surgery was performed, police said.

At this point, the injuries were not life threatening, police said.

The victim did not live at the residence where the stabbing had occurred, Orr said.