FAYETTEVILLE -- A Springdale man pleaded not guilty in Washington County Circuit Court on Wednesday to a charge of first-degree murder related to a fatal stabbing last month.
Police said they found Luis Esmurria-Anaya, 44, at 2:06 a.m. May 7 bleeding on the staircase at 1705 Lowell Road, Building C. He was pronounced dead at Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, according to the report. He was stabbed four times after he tried to break up a fight, police said. No one else was hurt.
Hector M. Solivan, 20, of 712 Maple Drive, is charged with first-degree murder. Solivan pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and was given an Aug. 18 court date.
Solivan told police after his arrest he stabbed Esmurria-Anaya, saw him fall to the ground and saw him have a "seizure," the report said.
Witnesses said they tried to break up the fight when Esmurria-Anaya was stabbed. Esmurria-Anaya, who lived in another building, and Solivan didn't know each other, police said. Alcohol was a factor in the incident, they said.
Solivan's criminal background includes possession of alcohol by a minor and a failure to appear offense, according to the police report.
Solivan was being held in the Washington County Detention Center on Wednesday on a $250,000 bond.
First-degree murder is punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison.
NW News on 06/22/2017