A Texarkana, Ark., woman accused of stabbing a man to death following a verbal altercation at her home is facing a second-degree murder charge in Miller County.
Sherry Lashay Woods, 35, was initially charged with first-degree battery in the stabbing of 43-year-old Jerry Baker, but the charges were upgraded to murder upon Baker's death at a local emergency room.
Woods was scheduled to appear Tuesday before Circuit Judge Brent Haltom, but a new hearing date of April 18 was scheduled at the request of Managing Public Defender Jason Mitchell, who is awaiting information from the state regarding the specifics of the case. Woods is free on a $100,000 bailbond.
Texarkana, Ark., police responded to a stabbing call in the area of California and East 10th streets shortly before midnight Oct. 5, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. Baker was lying in the middle of the road, bleeding, when the call was made.
Baker's girlfriend allegedly told investigators she and Baker were visiting at his sister's house earlier in the evening when Woods stopped by and invited the girlfriend to Woods' home on East 10th Street in Texarkana, Ark. The girlfriend and Baker, allegedly described by his girlfriend as "on a whole other level," and "intoxicated," went to Woods house and a group of people socialized around a fire.
When Woods and Baker began arguing outside, Woods' two sons, ages 14 and 16, intervened on behalf of their mother, the affidavit alleges. Woods allegedly swung at the 14-year-old and missed before managing to land a blow aimed at the 16-year-old. The 16-year-old allegedly told detectives his mother stabbed Baker multiple times after Baker hit him in the face.
Woods' across-the-street neighbor allegedly told investigators during an interview several days later that he was sitting on his porch when Baker approached, chatted for several minutes and told him he was going home. The neighbor claims a short time later he heard a knock on his door and it was Baker, telling him Woods and her sons had made him leave their property.
"(The neighbor) advised them to stop. (The neighbor) said at this time (Woods) took her kids back in her yard," the affidavit states. "(The neighbor) stated that at this time (Woods) told her boys to stay in the gate until she told them to come out."
The neighbor told officers he saw Woods, her sons and Baker's girlfriend inside the gate of Woods' yard and heard Baker and Woods exchange words.
"He (the neighbor) thought it was over so he went back in the house," the affidavit states.
But a few minutes later, the neighbor described hearing a "panic knock," on his door and opened it to find Woods standing on his porch.
The neighbor told investigators Woods said, "I think I killed him, I think I killed him."
The neighbor said he then saw Baker lying in the road and that where Baker was found was not in Woods' yard.
If convicted of second-degree murder, Woods faces a fine up to $15,000 and five to 30 years in prison.