EDINBURGH, Ind. -- A 34-year-old man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection to the fatal stabbing of a man in Edinburgh this week.
The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office announced Friday that Steven Garvin has been preliminarily charged with voluntary manslaughter (level 2 felony) and possession of methamphetamine (level 5 felony) after allegedly stabbing and killing 48-year-old Michael Gene Adair.
According to previous reports, officers with the Edinburgh Police Department were called on May 6 around 12:22 a.m. to the 6400 block of E. State Road 252 after receiving reports of a possible stabbing. Upon arrival, officers found Adair suffering from multiple stab wounds in the torso.
Adair was later pronounced dead at the scene after officers tried utilizing live-saving techniques. Police had said at the time that officers had detained a person of interest, identified as Garvin, at the scene for further questioning.
According to court documents, Adair became angry when Garvin and a group of individuals were at his apartment. He stayed at the apartment with one other roommate.
The court documents detail how detectives spoke to several witnesses who observed the fatal stabbing. One of the witnesses reportedly told investigators that a fight broke out between Garvin and Adair after the victim arrived at the apartment and began yelling and telling people to leave.
Garvin allegedly refused to leave a bedroom within the apartment where he and Adair threw punches at one another after arguing, court documents said. One witness told detectives that they noticed a knife jutting out of the left side of Adair's chest just under his armpit and proceeded to help apply pressure to the wound.
Adair then collapsed as Garvin allegedly began "panicking, screaming, and running around."The same witness claimed Garvin left the residence before returning with another individual.
Another witness told detectives that they were hanging out with Adair when he was notified that people were inside his apartment. The pair drove over and the witness remained in the vehicle while Adair entered the apartment to tell everyone to leave.
The witness claimed they saw two people exit the residence while waiting in the car. A few minutes passed before the witness told detectives that Garvin allegedly ran out of the apartment asking for help while stating that he had accidentally stabbed Adair, court documents said.
Court documents show Garvin asking investigators multiple times if Adair was alright and stating that they were "only playing." Garvin reportedly "acted as if he was crying but no tears were observed," according to court documents.
Officers located Adair's body, a knife with blood on it, a baggie containing methamphetamine, a bag with marijuana inside of it and three cell phones while executing a search warrant inside the apartment, court documents said.
As part of their investigation, detectives reviewed a 911 recording where Garvin could be heard allegedly telling dispatch that Adair had "fallen on a knife," contradicting his previous account of what unfolded.
Detectives recounted in the court documents how Garvin allegedly changed his story when detailing how Adair ended up being stabbed. Garvin proceeded to deny that he and Adair were involved in an altercation while going on to say that the pair were only "fucking around" and playing "grab ass" and that he "did not kill that dude."
Garvin went on to state that he and Adair began tackling and pinching each other. Garvin claimed the interaction began when Adair slapped him on his neck with two fingers and that he responded by throwing something at Adair.
Garvin said Adair ducked and pushed him and that was the moment when he saw the knife sticking out of Adair.
During a second interview with a different detective, Garvin claimed he went to Adair's apartment to meet with someone there to trade heroin for methamphetamine.
Investigators were finally able to learn more information about the incident following the conclusion of a third and final interview.
A detective asked Garvin what his thoughts were on potential charges. Garvin responded by reportedly stating that "20 years is justifiable."
Garvin proceeded to reenact the interaction while explaining that he and Adair were friends and that he had offered to cut up some drugs to share with Adair. Garvin claimed Adair struck him on the back of his head with his fists so he pushed Adair back.
After the initial push, Garvin allegedly admitted he had a knife in his hand and that he had "hit" Adair with it, saying, "I f***ing had it and I hit him." The court documents said Garvin made a swinging stabbing motion as if the knife was still in his hand as he walked the detective through the fatal moment.
According to online court records, Garvin is scheduled to appear in an initial hearing on May 20 at 1:30 p.m. in Johnson Superior Court 3.