Two charged in Poplar Bluff stabbing over computer theft allegation

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — An accusation over the theft of a computer left one man with multiple stab wounds and sent his alleged attackers to jail.

George A. Wise, 33, and James Thomas Edwards, 22, were charged Monday with felony first-degree assault and felony armed criminal action by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour.

The complaint on file with the court alleges that on Sunday, Wise and Edwards stabbed Dustin W. Garver.

After being charged Monday, Wise and Edwards, whose bonds were set at $250,000 cash or surety, were arraigned before Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth and entered not guilty pleas.

Attorney Jim Craft with the Public Defender's Office made an oral motion for a bond reduction in the men's cases, which was denied by Bloodworth, who set bond hearings for 9 a.m. Monday.

The charges against Wise and Edwards were the result of an investigation by the Poplar Bluff Police Department into an incident that occurred at 3:55 p.m. Sunday at a residence on Thomas Street.

Upon his arrival at the residence, police patrolman Danny Hicks said he found Garver, who was covered in blood, in the yard.

Garver, according to Hicks' probable-cause affidavit, reported he had been assaulted by Wise and another man.

"Garver had approximately 10 stab wounds on several parts of his body," Hicks said. "He further stated that the two male subjects came to the residence [and] Wise was holding a baseball bat and the other white male subject had a knife."

The men reportedly entered the residence and started an altercation over a computer Garver had supposedly accused Wise of stealing, Hicks said.

"During the altercation, Garver was stabbed and punched repeatedly," said Hicks, who contacted the owner of the residence. Hicks said the owner's story was consistent with the one told by Garver, and that the owner further stated Wise had a baseball bat, threatening to assault them when the altercation occurred.

At 6:50 p.m., Hicks said, Wise came to the police station, wanting to talk about what had occurred earlier.

After being told of his rights, Wise said that he and Edwards had gone to the house and an altercation occurred in which Garver was stabbed by Edwards, Hicks said.

Wise, according to Hicks, provided officers with Edwards' address.

Hicks said officers found Edwards at the address. After being told of his rights, Edwards reportedly gave officers permission to search his residence for possible evidence.

"His clothing was located in the residence with spots of blood on them," Hicks said.

In a subsequent interview, "he admitted to stabbing Garver with a knife," Hicks said. "He stated that he disposed of the knife along the river."