Suspected affair leads to stabbing

Courtesy Washington County Sheriff's Office
KESSLER, DAVID  
3624 E FRIENDSHIP ROAD 
SPRINGDALE, AR 72764-
BATTERY - 1ST DEGREE 
FAILURE TO APPEAR
Courtesy Washington County Sheriff's Office KESSLER, DAVID 3624 E FRIENDSHIP ROAD SPRINGDALE, AR 72764- BATTERY - 1ST DEGREE FAILURE TO APPEAR

FAYETTEVILLE — A man was stabbed twice by a Springdale man early Saturday morning, according to a Fayetteville preliminary police report released Monday.

David Lee Kessler, 30, of 3624 E. Friendship Road in Springdale was arrested in connection with first-degree battery, according to online jail logs. Kessler told police he stabbed Christopher “Mailman” Clifton, 40, because Kessler thought Clifton and Kessler’s wife were having an affair, according to the police report.

Alcohol played a role in the stabbing, police said.

Police said Kessler used a knife to stab Clifton while both men and Kessler’s wife were at 308 W. Nonamaker Drive, according to the police report. Clifton was stabbed in the right arm and in the abdomen near the bottom of his right rib cage, according to the police report. He was taken to the hospital with a lacerated liver and collapsed lung, according to the report.

Clifton was not listed as being at the hospital Washington Regional Medical Center by Monday, spokeswoman Gina Maddox said. The Fayetteville Police Department did not immediately have an update on Clifton’s condition.

Police also did not know where Clifton resides.

Witnesses told police Kessler had said he was going to “kill” Clifton before the stabbing, the report shows. Witnesses also said Kessler was jealous and depressed and had tried to cut his own throat earlier the same day, according to the report.

Kessler said he “blacked-out” when he thought Clifton stood up with a golf club in his hand, according to the police report.

“The next thing he recalled was people saying ‘you stabbed him,’” the report said. Kessler told police he saw he had a knife in his hand and walked away, according to the police report. Police arrested Kessler as he was walking on South School Avenue just moments after the stabbing, according to the report.

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.

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