A Crockett County jury has convicted 38-year-old Antonio Pewitte in a violent ambush outside a Bells food plant, finding him guilty of attempted voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault in a stabbing that left his former girlfriend seriously injured. The two-day trial wrapped up on Wednesday, and Pewitte now faces a maximum of up to 10 years in state prison.
What the Jury Heard
Prosecutors told jurors that on October 19, 2024, Pewitte waited outside the victim’s workplace at the Pictsweet plant, then ran up behind her and stabbed her five times, including multiple wounds to her face, according to WBBJ. District Attorney Frederick H. Agee described the attack as “enough to prove his intent to commit first‑degree murder,” the release stated. Prosecutors also noted that jurors were not allowed to hear about Pewitte’s prior felony convictions during the trial.
Attack and Manhunt
After the October 19 attack, local authorities labeled Pewitte armed and dangerous and asked the public for tips. Officers recovered a white Tahoe that witnesses reported seeing him drive and found bloodstains inside the vehicle, and Bells police urged anyone with information to contact investigators, as reported by Action News 5. That early alert triggered a multi‑agency search involving local sheriff’s offices and federal partners.
Capture and Conviction Details
The U.S. Marshals located Pewitte in Memphis about 10 days after the attack and took him into custody, and investigators say he had abandoned his vehicle at his grandmother’s house in Humboldt before fleeing, according to WBBJ. Pewitte had originally been indicted on attempted first‑degree murder and aggravated assault, but jurors instead returned guilty verdicts on attempted voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. The case was prosecuted by District Attorney Frederick H. Agee, with Assistant District Attorney Nina W. Seiler handling the trial.
What Comes Next
Pewitte faces a statutory maximum of 10 years at 100% to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections, prosecutors told Action News 5. A formal sentencing date before the Honorable Clayburn Peeples has not yet been set. The District Attorney’s office publicly thanked Bells police, county sheriff’s offices, and the U.S. Marshals for their work on the investigation.
