Stabbing ends work dispute, suspect on run
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

An argument over pay apparently led to the stabbing Monday night of an El Campo man who had to be flown to Houston for medical care.

According to El Campo Police Chief Jim Elliott, at 6:55 p.m. officers were called to a disturbance with a knife at 508 Bruns. When they arrived they found the home's resident - Andres Martinez, 40, - had been stabbed once in the upper right chest.

"He was involved in a disturbance with the suspect, an argument over home repair work," Elliott said. "The victim told the suspect to come back Friday and he'd pay him. They argued over payment, then the suspect stabbed him" with a folding pocket knife.

Martinez was conscious when police arrived, Elliott said.

The victim was taken by ambulance to the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department's training facility behind Friendship Park. There they met a Life Flight helicopter ambulance, which flew Martinez to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

Back at the site of the stabbing, police went on the hunt for Martinez' attacker, who had fled by the time officers arrived.

"We believe he's an illegal alien," Elliott said. "We searched several locations in an attempt to find him. It's critical to find (illegal alien suspects) in the first hour or so, or they flee to Mexico, and then we have another warrant that can't be served."

"We really don't have a positive I.D. on the suspect," Elliott said. "We'll probably never arrest him if he's already fled to Mexico."

Elliott said the investigation into Martinez' stabbing is ongoing, but police have yet to interview him due to his medical status.

He was in good condition at Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center as of 2:30 p.m. yesterday.