[PHOTO CREDIT: Lake County Sheriff’s Office]
[Original Publish Date: 04/08/20]
FRUITLAND PARK, Florida — A Fruitland Park man accused of stabbing another man and puncturing his lung is in the Lake County Jail facing an attempted murder charge, in addition to facing three counts of sexually battery on a child over 12 in Marion County.
Shortly after 1:15 a.m. Monday, Leesburg Police Department notified the Lake County Sheriff’s Office that a victim with multiple stab wounds was at UF Health Leesburg, formerly known as Leesburg Regional Medical Center. LCSO was informed the stabbing occurred at a home in the 4600 block of Pine Street in Fruitland Park and deputies responded to the scene and the hospital.
The responding deputy arrived at the scene and spoke to a witness who told him the victim’s wife— holding a large bloody knife — ran into the residence earlier screaming that her husband had been stabbed, along with another woman, according to the report. The witness took the knife from the victim’s wife and placed it on the stove. The witness and the victim’s wife went outside and found the victim with four stab wounds and bleeding profusely; the witness stated he was going to call 9-1-1 and both the victim and his wife told him not to because, “they did not want the cops involved,” the report states. The victim, his wife and a female witness then left and went to the hospital.
The male witness refused to allow the deputy inside the home, but did retrieve the knife for the deputy while he stood at the doorway, according to the report.
An LCSO deputy responded to the hospital and the victim, “would not provide [the deputy] with much relevant information.” The victim, suffering from four severe stab wounds, was transported by ground to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
Around 5 p.m. Monday, the victim agreed to talk to a deputy and said he was lying in bed with his wife when they heard their well pump come on. Since the pump only comes on by pulling a rope, the victim called his dog and went out to investigate; he said Paul Joel Smith, 39, “came out of nowhere and started stabbing him.” The victim wrestled Smith to the ground and yelled for his wife. She took the knife and then took her husband to the hospital. On Monday, the victim was still unsure if he wanted to prosecute Smith, but on Tuesday, he made up his mind and decided to press charges. The pair has known each other since 2012.
Smith was charged with attempted second degree murder and is being held on $100,000 bond on that charge. He is also facing three counts of sexual battery on a child over 12 in Marion County. He is being held on no bond on the sex charges.
[ Read the follow-up article: https://www.lakelegalnews.com/article/motive-in-fruitland-park-stabbing-emerges-thumb-drive-reportedly-contains-shocking-evidence-of-child-sexual-abuse/ ]
_______________________________
Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
