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GoogleJacob Wayne "Jake" Riddle entered a plea of not guilty of murdering 20-year-old Joseph Timothy Floyd of Wartrace.
A court date of May 23 has been set at the Moore County Courthouse in Lynchburg.
Floyd was fatally stabbed in the early morning of Feb. 2 at a party in the Lost Creek area of Moore County near Tims Ford Lake.
Witnesses testified Tuesday about what they saw the night Floyd was killed. One witness stated that a number of fights occurred during the party, culminating in the altercation that took Floyd's life.
Testimony from two witnesses stated that a "three on one" fight occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 2 in which Riddle was attacked by Floyd, whom he did not know, and two other partygoers.
Both witnesses who attended the party testified they saw Riddle pull a knife. While one of the witnesses did not see the fight that resulted in Floyd's death, the other testified that Riddle said, "I'll stab him, I'll stab him."
The death occurred in front of the Lost Creek Bait Shop, which is across the street from the cabin where the party took place.
According to testimony from the witness that did see the death, Floyd ran toward Riddle, tackled him and another fight started with Floyd on top. Then, Floyd stood up, clutching his chest, walked about 50 feet and collapsed.
The witness stated that Riddle said: "What did I do? What did I do?"
Fire Captain Jay Grayson 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 Grayson could see several of Floyd's internal organs.
Following the testimony on Tuesday, prosecutor Hollynn Ubanks told General Sessions Judge Terry Gregory that it was clear there was premeditation since two witnesses testified that Riddle already had the knife out at the top of the hill before the final, deadly brawl.
Gregory then bound Riddle over to the Moore County grand jury and Ubanks asked that he be bound over on charges of first degree murder, which the judge granted.
Floyd was a member of the Tennessee National Guard and a student at Motlow State Community College.
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Floyd was a wonderful boy and young man....He is missed by all his family and friends...Riddle needs to pay for taking the life of this wonderful young man...Case Closed
The only person that will judge Riddle actions toward Mr Floyd and at that time the judge ruling is final, no appeals..He will get what his reward". My heart goes out to the Floyd family that GOD will take care of this horrible crime...
Everyone knows that the jake boy is guilty, i just laugh at him for even trying to get out of it now,joe is a good friend and a wonderful battle buddie. love you joe
Why didn't someone at the party separate these two, and make one of them leave if they knew there was trouble brewing between them. Those witnesses should bare some of the blame. Now two young men's lives are ruined forever, two familes must live with the results. My son was murdered 9 years ago, that pain never goes away. My heart goes out to both families.
I think it should be considered that Riddle's yelling "I will stab him" was a mere warning to Floyd. Hoping not to really stab him-- Floyd attacked him (witness stated) and Riddle had inate reactions of self defense. The question here is not who is at fault (they are both guilty- Floyd for attacking, Riddle for stabbing, and both for being in secular environment) but rather why did this happen? It seems that the results of this misfortune were no more than kismet of a lifesyle- it is possible we should consider peer pressure and lifestyle circumstances. But to say "he is guilty" or "he was a good kid" is being biased, put your self in both there shoes. I do not know either family, but it does seem unfair to autmatically cast someone to hell. In looking at what has been reported it is far from clear cut; furthermore, as easy as some view Floyd as the victim-- there are others whom view Riddle as the victim. In either view, Riddle should not have responded with leathel force, but Floyd should not have kicked a dead horse by attacking Riddle (a fight that had already ended). So while lawyers and jury members determine whether the chicken or the egg came first-- we should remember that biased responses put salt in bleeding wounds of those who can't help it (families). And yes, my heart aches for both families and they are and have been in my prayers. I am truly saddened that any gathering of peers would conclude so horrifically. I encourage parents to use this story as a model and educate your children -- prevention is always the best "reaction." No one can bring Floyd back, but with effort- Floyd's Loss could ultimately become countless lives saved. God Bless
I do feel sorry for Mr. Floyd's family and also feel bad that a young man's life was cut short. However I do not see how this can be considered 1st degree murder, since witnesses have testified that Floyd and two others had previously jumped on Riddle. then when a man (Floyd) runs up and tackles another (Riddle), then I tend to look towards more of an involuntary manslaughter charge at the most and self defense at the least. I have a feeling that if Riddle is represented by a good lawyer, that these charges will be reduced, if not acquitted. If the case does go to trial and Riddle is found guilty of anything more than involuntary manslaughter, then I suspect the case will be overturned on appeal.
Although I hate to say or think this, I believe the charges will be reduced to voluntary manslaughter (which I think only gets about 5 years in jail). True, the "I'll stab him" comment could be considered grounds for premeditation, but I doubt it, due to the fact that it was said in the heat of the moment. Also, they are not sure who exactly the comment was directed toward; however, the nature of the wounds do not seem like they were intended to only protect oneself. I can understand an in-and-out stab wound, but a six-inch cut exposing internal organs? That seems like it was meant to kill. I just wish we had a little more info about how this all started. I grew up with Joe and can easily say he is one of the best guys I have ever known. The fact that so many questions are still unanswered bothers me to no end. How did it start? Where were Joe's friends? Why would he be fighting with someone like Riddle in the first place? I'm not blaming one person or the other, but it would be nice to have a little peace in knowing the whole truth and not just snippets.
In no way am i trying to say what Jake did was right... let me first of all just say that... i had met Joe before and he was a very sweet guy! i am very very deeply sorry for everyones loss... Jake and I have been dating since december and i love him deeply.. i know what Jake did was horrible.. but in his defense he was scared and the whole fight that started had nothing to do with him.. he was jumped by 3 other guys and that was honestly not fair... He obviously got scared and tried to get them to leave him alone by pulling out his knife.. which was not the right thing for him to do i understand that. Joe shouldnt have came back at Jake like he did... but thats all over with now.. Jake did not mean to kill Joe what so ever... i know this for a fact, if you all knew Jake like i do you would know that he is a very loving person... He may not look like it on the outside but on the inside Jake is a very sensitive and caring guy... he called me as soon as he left that party and he couldnt even talk he was crying so hard.. he threatened to kill himself because he felt so bad for taking Joes life.. Jake calls me every night and he still cries almost every night... he knows what he did was EXTREMELY wrong and he feels absolutely horrible... i stayed on the phone with him until the cops came and got him that night and i finally talked him into calling the cops and telling them where he was.. he wasnt going to because he was going to kill himself... I know this in no way makes up for what Jake has caused you in your life... but i just wanting to say that hes not such a bad guy like everyone thinks... the whole altercation was a huge misunderstanding and it unfortunately ended in death of young man... like i said in no way am i trying to make what Jake did right because it was definitly not right... Jake always says that he really wants the chance to apologize to you all but he is scared... i wanted to say to all of Joes family and friends and his fiance that i am truly sorry for your loss... and i know that nothing can make it right...
To outside view, he wasn't yelling he was going to stab him, he was talking the one boy that was standing by him. So no my son did not hear him! Had he he would had enough knowledge to go another way. And no matter who he said he was going to stab he said he was going to stab someone. My son was an honorable young man, and to past judgement on what went on we weren't there. And until you have to walk in my shoes, you don't know what you would think. Right now I am a very angry woman. My husband, our daughter and myself have lost our son and brother, a young man that would give the shirt off his back, and would help out or take up for anyone. And the comment on Jake wanting to apologize would not be a good thing for me. And judge anything that is going on right now would be a misjustice. And until someone has walked in my shoes they might understand that saying Joseph was the aggressor and should have walk away, you have only heard oneside of the story, by boy's that had only met Joseph that night and had known Jake for a long time. So you are going to hear everything. But a self defense stab would have been one stab not two. And one wouldn't have been so severe and deep that you could have sawed through rib and seen internal organs. So while everyone is making there judgements on what should happen. Remember I don't have my son no more, all have left is going to a grave everyday and telling him how much I love and miss him.