Man breaks into house, stabs brother-in-law, Senath police say

Joshua Payne

Daily Dunklin Democrat

SENATH, Mo. -- On Wednesday morning Senath police responded to a stabbing at 601 West Commercial Street in Senath.

According to Senath City Marshall Omar Karnes, Erick Barrientes, 19, of Senath, had been living with his sister and his brother-in-law at the residence.

Police say the relatives had been trying to convince Barrientes to move from the residence for some time, which led to the windows being sealed with screws and the doors locked while Barrientes was away from the home on Tuesday night.

When he returned to the home, intoxicated, on Wednesday morning, he was able to get into the home through one of the windows, according to the residents.

Upon entry into the home, Barrientes was met by his brother-in-law Osvaldo Cuevas, 21, of the residence. Cuevas informed Barrientes that he was not welcome and needed to leave the residence. Barrientes attacked Cuevas and hit him in the side, according to Cuevas report. After the altercation, Cuevas walked outside of the home to wait for his ride to work. When his ride arrived he discovered blood on his side and realized that he had been stabbed by Barrientes during the scuffle, Cuevas noted.

Senath police responded to the incident and discovered that Cuevas had received an approximate four inch stab wound to his side.

Barrientes was arrested for assault in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, and armed criminal action, according to Karnes.

Karnes noted that Cuevas' wound caused a small amount of damage to his lung but to no other vital organs.

"He was very lucky," Karnes said.

Barrientes is currently being held in the Dunklin County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond and is awaiting the filing of formal charges by the Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Information from: http://www.dddnews.com