A hitchhiker who is a person of interest in an Arizona homicide has been arrested near Fillmore, Utah, accused of stabbing a woman who gave him a ride.
Fernando Ray White, 38, of Sacaton, Ariz., was charged Friday with one count of attempted murder, a first-degree felony — which carries a possible sentence of five years to life in prison.
White also was charged with: possession or use of a firearm by a restricted person, a second-degree felony; two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, second-degree felonies; and one count of possession of a controlled substance, a Class B misdemeanor.
According to a probable cause statement filed by the Millard County Sheriff’s Office, a woman and her sister had picked up a man south of Fillmore early Tuesday morning. The woman received seven stab wounds: one to her cheek, one to her mouth that chipped two teeth, one to her neck, one to her right hand, two to her left forearm and one to her left upper arm. The women dropped the man off on the side of Interstate 15, about five miles south of Fillmore.
Officers found White along the southbound side of I-15, near mile marker 157. Searching the area, police said they found a knife near where White was standing. Searching White, they found what was later identified as 0.7 grams of heroin, 2.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 1.3 grams of marijuana. They also found a loaded 30-round 9mm magazine and six unspent 9mm rounds loose in his pockets.
White is on probation in Arizona, the statement said, and is a person of interest in an Arizona homicide case. He is being held without bail in the Millard County jail.
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