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Middletown man faces murder charges in stabbing

Brian McKenzie, 51, was stabbed to death Thursday in Middletown.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Donald Wayne Tucker, Sr., 50, of Middletown, was charged in the death of Brian McKenzie.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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The home at 1108 1/2 Garfield Street, Middletown, Ohio, pictured Friday, Oct 30, 2009 where Brian McKenzie, 51, was reportedly stabbed Thursday evening Oct 29, 2009 .

Photo by Gary Stelzer The home at 1108 1/2 Garfield Street, Middletown, Ohio, pictured Friday, Oct 30, 2009 where Brian McKenzie, 51, was reportedly stabbed Thursday evening Oct 29, 2009 .

By Jessica Heffner and jheffner@coxohio.com
Staff Writer Updated 5:56 PM Friday, October 30, 2009

A man accused in a fatal stabbing has admitted to the killing, according to police.

Police were called to 1108 1/2 Garfield St. on the report of a stabbing Thursday, Oct. 29. When officers arrived at about 9:47 p.m., Brian McKenzie, 51, was found stabbed and laying facedown on the living-room floor. He was taken to Atrium Medical Center but died from his injuries soon after, according to police.

The resident of the home, Donald Wayne Tucker Sr., 50, who initially called police, was arrested on a charge of murder. He told officers at the scene and again during detective questioning that he had stabbed McKenzie, said Middletown Detective David Swartzel.

However, Swartzel said, Tucker’s account of what led up to the stabbing has been inconsistent.

“They were friends and knew each other. We don’t really know what caused” the stabbing, he said.

At the scene, Tucker indicated to police that McKenzie and he were roommates. Swartzel said McKenzie did not have a known residence and “bounces around from place to place.”

Police said both men may have been drinking before the stabbing.

The knife believed to have been used, described as a fixed blade smaller than a hunting knife, was found with blood on it and was taken by police, Swartzel said.

Tucker was booked into Middletown City Jail and was arraigned Friday, Oct. 30, at about 9 a.m. He was given a court-appointed attorney and bond was set at $150,000, according to officials from the Middletown Municipal Court.

Tucker has 22 prior offenses on his record, including aggravated assault with a weapon, breaking and entering, menacing and several disorderly conduct and intoxication charges, according to court records.

Tucker is expected to have a preliminary hearing at Middletown Municipal Court sometime next week.

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