Authorities say autopsy results Tuesday confirm that a Poplar Bluff man bled out after he suffered knife wounds during a domestic dispute at his home. A 23-year-old woman was later arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, but authorities also are considering possible circumstances of self-defense.
The autopsy was performed Tuesday morning on Jack Hemby at Farmington, said Butler County Coroner Andy Moore, who pronounced the 46-year-old dead at his County Road 565 home Monday evening. It was done by Dr. Russell Deidiker.
“The autopsy results are conclusive of what we thought (Monday) night, indicating he died as the result of knife wounds,” Moore explained. “(The wounds) were deeper than what cuts would be.
“ … There was an artery that was nicked that caused him to lose a great amount of blood” and bleed out.
As is standard procedure, samples were taken for toxicology analysis, and those results are pending, Moore said.
Authorities learned of Hemby’s death just after 6 p.m. Monday.
“We got a call of someone needing medical attention due to being cut by a knife at 170 County Road 565,” said Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs. “Upon arrival, deputies learned this was the result of a domestic dispute that spun out of control.
“Apparently, there was a verbal altercation at first between the victim and his stepson over mutual bills and finances.”
At some point, Dobbs said, a club was “brandished by the victim (Hemby), and the victim eventually struck the stepson in the head with the club.”
Dobbs said the stepson’s 23-year-old fiancee, Tabitha Lee Duty, allegedly “slashed the legs of the victim with a utility knife commonly used in construction.
“Within a short period of time, the victim bled out and died at the scene.”
Authorities say the incident took place in the kitchen of the home shared by Hemby, his stepson and Duty.
“(Duty) she’s there as it’s taking place,” Dobbs said. “She was there for the start of the verbal argument.”
Physical evidence was found at the scene, Dobbs said, to “back up what the stepson alleged occurred, that the victim was being aggressive and swinging the club.”
The stepson, according to Dobbs, had injuries, but did not seek medical treatment for them.
Duty was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder, Dobbs said. She reportedly was released a few hours later.
“No doubt in this case, there are self-defense issues to be considered before formal charges are requested,” Dobbs said.
All reports will go to Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kacey Proctor for his review, he said.