FAYETTEVILLE -- A Springdale man stabbed another man twice early Saturday morning, according to a Fayetteville Police Department preliminary arrest report released Monday.
David Lee Kessler, 30, of 3624 E. Friendship Road was arrested in connection with first-degree battery. Kessler told police he stabbed Christopher "Mailman" Clifton, 40, because Kessler thought Clifton and Kessler's wife were having an affair.
Alcohol played a role in the incident at 308 W. Nonamaker Drive, police said.
Police said Kessler stabbed Clifton with a knife in the right arm and the abdomen near the bottom of his rib cage. He was taken to the hospital with a lacerated liver and collapsed lung, according to the report.
Clifton wasn't listed as being at Washington Regional Medical Center on Monday, spokeswoman Gina Maddox said.
Police didn't know where Clifton resides.
Witnesses told police Kessler said he was going to kill Clifton before the stabbing. Witnesses also said Kessler was jealous and depressed and tried to cut his own throat earlier Saturday, according to the report. Kessler told police he blacked out when he thought he saw Clifton stand up holding a golf club.
"The next thing he recalled was people saying 'you stabbed him,'" according to the report. Kessler told police he saw he had a knife in his hand and walked away. Police arrested Kessler walking on South School Avenue just minutes after the stabbing.
Kessler was treated at Washington Regional Medical Center for a cut on his throat, the report shows. He was at the Washington County Detention Center with bonds of $25,585 Monday.
NW News on 07/11/2017