Riddle pleads 'not guilty' in Floyd murder

LYNCHBURG -- A Moore County grand jury indicted a Tullahoma man on charges of first degree murder Friday in the stabbing death of a young Wartrace man.

Jacob 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.