Manassas man faces charge of attempted murder in stabbing case

By Joe Beck -- jbeck@nvdaily.com

A defendant in an April 20 stabbing case was indicted Monday in Warren County Circuit Court for attempted murder, aggravated malicious wounding and unlawful stabbing.

Joshua Christopher Profitt, 29, of Manassas is accused of leaving Christopher Stephens, 22, of 3163 Freezeland Road, Linden with "multiple" stab wounds, according to the criminal complaint.

A press release issued by the Sheriff's Office shortly after the attack listed the number of stab wounds at 30.

The criminal complaint against Profitt states that the emergency room staff at Winchester Medical Center treated Stephens for a severe cuts to the face and neck and multiple stab wounds to the torso, one in the abdomen and possible organ damage. The complaint adds that Stephens was about to have surgery for his injuries at the time Sheriff's Office investigators saw him.

The complaint signed by Sgt. Gordon Foster of the Warren County Sheriff's Office states that sheriff's deputies arrived at Stephens's home at 3163 Freezeland Road after fielding a report of a stabbing. The injured Stephens told a detective that Profitt had attacked him, according to the complaint.

The complaint also states that Stephens told his father that Profitt was the assailant.

Documents filed with a search warrant for Stephens' home state that Profitt also used a baseball bat in the attack. The search warrant documents also state that bloodstains were found throughout the crime scene, including the yard, driveway, near the mailbox, roadway, an embankment and the kitchen.

Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Madden has said that Stephens and Profitt were acquainted with each other as former roommates before the stabbing.

Sheriff Daniel T. McEathron has said that investigators arrested Profitt at the Sheriff's Office during an interview that was conducted the same day as the stabbing.