Murder suspect bound over to Grand Jury

Members of the family of Joseph Timothy Floyd of Wartrace gathered outside the Moore County Courthouse in Lynchburg following a preliminary hearing Tuesday where witnesses testified about the events that led to Floyd's death on Feb. 2. Jacob Wayne "Jake" Riddle of Tullahoma has been charged with criminal homicide and could be charged with first dergee murder by the Moore County grand jury on Friday. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Jacob Wayne "Jake" Riddle of Tullahoma has been charged with criminal homicide in connection with the death of 20-year-old Joseph Timothy Floyd, who was fatally stabbed in the early morning hours of Feb. 2 at a party in the Lost Creek area of Moore County near Tims Ford Lake.

The purpose of the preliminary hearing was to determine if the stabbing incident was self defense or premeditated, which will determine what type of charges Riddle may face.

Under tight security, with court spectators required to pass through metal detectors, General Sessions Judge Terry Gregory heard from three witnesses who described their perceptions of what happened the night that Floyd was killed.

Riddle was present in the courtroom, but said nothing and showed little emotion. He was shackled and wearing a black and white stripped jail uniform.

First on the witness stand was Dustin Reed of Tullahoma, who testified under cross-examination from prosecuting attorney Hollynn Ubanks and defense council Dorothy Buck that several fights occurred during the party, some of which he was involved in.

One altercation occurred on the deck of the rental cabin where the party took place, while another disagreement happened in the kitchen, Reed stated. Neither Riddle nor Floyd were involved in the first two fights, Reed testified.

At one point during the party, which was attended by around 20 people, most of the partygoers went outside when another fight began. Reed testified that a "3 on 1" fight took place, with Riddle being set upon by Floyd, whom he did not know, and two others.

Reed testified that he thought three against one was unfair and attempted to break up the fight, which resulted in him pulling Floyd away from the brawl and being struck and getting into an altercation with one of the others that were attacking Riddle.

However, Reed also testified that he saw Riddle with a knife in his hand and made the decision to leave the area and walked back up the hill toward the cabin. Reed then testified that he heard screaming down the hill, in front of Lost Creek Bait Shop, which is across the street from the cabin where the party took place, and saw Floyd collapse.

Reed testified that he left the party but soon returned when he discovered he left his cell phone. Upon his return, Reed testified he saw partygoers performing CPR on Floyd and heard sirens approaching.

Another partygoer present on Feb. 1-2 was Dexter Golden, who also said that two fights occurred earlier in the evening at the cabin. Golden also testified about the outside fight and what happened after Reed attempted to break it up.

Golden testified that he saw Riddle pull a knife following the three on one confrontation, and say "I'll stab him, I'll stab him." Golden said did not know who Riddle was allegedly referring to.

According to Golden's testimony, Floyd ran toward Riddle, tackled him and another fight started, with Floyd on top.

Then, Golden testified, Floyd stood up, clutching his chest, walked about 50 feet and collapsed.

Golden stated that Riddle said: "What did I do? What did I do?" Riddle testified he checked on Floyd and then panicked, leaving the scene.

The final testimony of the day was from Fire Captain Jay Grayson, who described Floyd's condition when he arrived at the scene. He testified that Floyd had two stab wounds, one "in and out" wound on the right side of his chest and another that was four to six inches long that was so severe that Grayson could see several of Floyd's internal organs.

It was this graphic testimony that caused several of Floyd's family members to burst into tears.

Floyd was not breathing and had no pulse, Grayson stated, and had been apparently bandaged by one of the partygoers with a shirt. Grayson testified he continued to work on Floyd until the ambulance arrived.

Ubanks told Gregory that it was clear that there was premeditation since two witnesses testified that Riddle already had the knife out at the top of the hill before the final brawl in front of the market that resulted in Floyd's death.

Gregory then bound Riddle over the Moore County Grand Jury and Ubanks asked that he be bound over on charges of first degree murder, which the judge granted. The grand jury meets this Friday at 1 p.m.

Floyd was a member of the Tennessee National Guard and a student at Motlow State Community College.