A disastrous quarrel between roommates ended in tragedy at a Scottsdale mobile home park, police say. Timothy Rexford Grant, a 76-year-old man, now faces manslaughter charges for the fatal stabbing of his 69-year-old roommate, David Ricks.
Having shared a home for over a decade at Riviera Mobile Home Park, near McKellips and Hayden roads, the two men's long-standing camaraderie took a turn on Wednesday afternoon. A session of afternoon drinking spiraled into a violent clash, ending with Ricks receiving lethal knife wounds to the stomach and chest, as reported by AZFamily. Following the altercation, a bloodied Grant sought help from a neighbor who dialed 911.
In initial statements to responding officers, Grant's recollection was hazy, recalling only that Ricks had made lethal threats "while holding a knife down to his side." As tensions escalated, Grant alleged Ricks brandished the knife with intent to stab, leading to a physical struggle in which he purportedly turned the weapon upon Ricks in self-defense, as per 12 News.
Evidence at the scene painted a more complex picture; Ricks had not only been stabbed twice but also bore scratches on his face, a shoulder cut, and an injured thumb—a result of attempted defense against the knife's blade, according to AZFamily. Later, during the police interview, Grant's memory gaps widened as he undetermined whether he and Ricks had engaged in wrestling or not, claiming a blackout during the incident. Getting arrested, Grant was later booked on one count of manslaughter, having his fate now rest on the scales of Maricopa County's legal system.
