Officials still probing two recent deaths
Two stabbing death cases which happened less than a month apart will more than likely not be on the September Franklin County grand jury docket together, officials said.
However, an 18-member grand jury will have to make some decisions on one of the cases next month.
The capital murder case against Andres Pascual Francisco, 26, 306 S. Carroll Ave., Russellville, who is accused of stabbing a Russellville man nine times and then slashing his neck, will make the docket for September.
Authorities said the stabbing occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 15 inside the victim’s vehicle on South Carroll Avenue.
Franklin County Courthouse officials said the victim, 20-year-old Francisco Valasquez, was pronounced dead just before noon the following Friday, which resulted in capital murder charges being brought against Francisco.
Investigators said the victim and the suspect knew each other and lived within a block of one another.
Authorities said Velasquez was stabbed twice in the right side, twice in the chest, once in the stomach, and there were four other slashes and stabs to his body, as well as a large cut on his neck.
Authorities located a steak knife in Velasquez’s car between the passenger seat and the door, which they believe to be the weapon used in the stabbing.
Investigators said Francisco was apprehended on Eighth Street Southwest in Decatur, the same day his alleged victim passed away.
Franklin County District Attorney Joey Rushing said a report released saying Francisco had been released on bail is inaccurate.
“There are actually two men with the same exact name but different birthdays who were serving time in the Franklin County jail at the time of that report,” Rushing said. “The other guy is accused of burglary, but the one accused of murder was never released on bond.”
Officials said Valasquez must have known Francisco because he was able to tell family members who were visiting with him at Huntsville Hospital who had stabbed him just before he died.
Francisco is being held at the Franklin County jail without bond.
The case of a Russellville man who was stabbed to death on June 24 is still under investigation, so officials assume it will not be completed in time for the September grand jury.
In a report published June 26, Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said Douglas Lavern “Sluggo” Craig, 42, of 3144 Montgomery St. in Russellville, and two females became involved in a domestic dispute around 6 a.m. at E-7 Ridgecrest Apartments on Washington Street near downtown Russellville.
Witnesses said they saw a man coming down a set of stairs, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
Craig died in the emergency room at Russellville Hospital a short time later, officials said.
Investigators said he was stabbed at least eight times with a kitchen knife.
At the time of the incident the two women involved in the incident claimed the stabbing was in self-defense and in an effort to stop Craig from attacking his ex-girlfriend’s roommate, officials said.
Rushing said all the forensic examinations, interviews from witnesses, subpoenaed phone records and the autopsy report has not been turned into his office as of yet.
“We don’t expect the case to go before the grand jury in September because the investigation is still ongoing,” he said. “Investigators with the Russellville Police Department are still working hard to gather all sides of the incident. We encourage anyone who has additional information regarding the Craig case to contact Russellville Police.”
