New Madrid man to stand trial for murder

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Based on the testimony from four witnesses, Robert "Bobby" Rooker was ordered to be tried on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action, the Sikeston Standard Democrat reported.

Rooker, 48, of New Madrid is charged in the April 23 stabbing death of Patrick Bradley.

New Madrid County Prosecuting Attorney Lewis Recker began Tuesday's preliminary hearing before Associate Judge Charles Spitler by calling Roger Lewis, a New Madrid County deputy. Lewis was the first officer to arrive at the small house on 324 Powell St., just blocks away from the sheriff's department.

Lewis testified when he arrived he saw two persons standing on the front porch of the home. Next, he observed a body lying on the steps below.

"I ran up to the body and saw a large amount of blood," Lewis said. After he was unable to feel a pulse, Lewis said, he recognized Rooker and asked who stabbed the man.

"Bobby said he did," Lewis testified. "The only other question I asked him is 'What did he stab him with?' and he held up a knife."

The officer said he asked Rooker to put the knife down and step away from the scene. After Rooker complied, Lewis said he secured the scene and awaited the arrival of other officers.

During questioning by Rooker's lawyer, Amanda Altman, Lewis noted the knife "was just a small pocket knife."

New Madrid County Coroner James C. McSpadden testified to moving the body from the scene to the coroner's office. Following the autopsy, McSpadden said he ruled the death a homicide, listing the cause of death as a knife wound to the chest.

Dr. Russell Deidiker, lab director for the Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, conducted the autopsy on Bradley. He said Bradley died after receiving a knife wound to the front chest.

According to Deidiker, although the knife entry wound was about an inch long, internally it caused about a 5-inch wound. The wound penetrated a chamber of the heart causing Bradley to bleed to death, he said.

Also the autopsy determined Bradley had contusions and abrasions to his face, shoulders and knees. In addition, he said the toxicology report showed the victim had Valium, morphine, hydrocodone, cocaine and other substances in his system at the time of death.

The final witness for the prosecution was Scott Stoelting, a sergeant with the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Drug and Crime Control Division. Stoelting conducted the interview with Rooker at the Sheriff's Department.

Stoelting described Rooker as having blood on his hands and arms as they began the interview.

According to the officer, Rooker stated Bradley had earlier threatened to "whup his ass." Also he had asked Rooker to stay away from the house on Powell Street where he lived with his father, James Bradley.

Rooker told Stoelting he had been on his way to the store, when he decided to visit the older Bradley.

In his statement to the officer Rooker said that when Patrick Bradley arrived at the residence, he was "irate and threatening." Stating that Bradley began to assault him, Rooker said he picked up a knife that he had laid on a nearby table and when Bradley lunged again at him, "that was it."

The officer stated that Rooker changed parts of his story two more times during the interview although he continually insisted Bradley began the altercation. Although Rooker stated Bradley had assaulted him, Stoelting said he did not see any bruises or contusions but said Rooker did have a cut on his finger.

During questioning by Rooker's lawyer, Stoelting said that Rooker told him he felt like Bradley "wanted to kill him." He described Rooker as "talkative" the night of the interview.

Based on the testimony, the judge set Rooker's next court appearance for 1 p.m. Tuesday in Division I of New Madrid County Circuit Court.