A Hopkinsville man has been charged with assault after he allegedly stabbed a male victim on Christmas Day.
According to the Christian County Sheriff’s Department report, deputies responded to a location on Witty Lane in reference to a stabbing, where contact was made with victim, witness and suspect. The victim—Eric Orzco—was able to tell law enforcement that he was reportedly stabbed by 42-year-old Benito Bautista multiple times in the side near his stomach. Orzco was taken to Jennie Stuart Medical Center for treatment.
A female witness on scene, the estranged wife of Bautista, told deputies that she and her husband are going through a divorce and she had been dating Orzco for some time, but there had never been in prior violence or incidents between the two. The victim had come to her residence to pick up her up, but Bautista was waiting by the road and got into the victim’s vehicle, saying he just wanted to talk. That’s when he allegedly stabbed Orzco, before getting back out of the car and throwing the knife into the front yard, which was collected by law enforcement.
Bautista did not speak to police, besides to only say that he “loved his family”. He was arrested and charged with first-degree assault and then lodged in the Christian County Jail.