Man charged with stabbing, kidnapping

HARLINGEN - A Harlingen man has been charged with stabbing a man and kidnapping a woman who visited the stabbing victim at the hospital later the same day, police said.

Charles Ruth III, 23, is charged with assault, kidnapping and burglary in a 3 a.m., Nov. 6 stabbing of a Harlingen man and the kidnapping of a woman who was visiting the man in the hospital on the day of the incident, police said.

The woman, who witnessed the stabbing, told police that Ruth broke down the back door to enter the male victim's home in the 1400 block of Vermont Street before stabbing him in the chest with a kitchen knife, according to a police news release. The man was taken to Valley Baptist Medical Center.

According to the release, Ruth fled the scene before police arrived.

Police said the female witness was visiting the victim in the hospital about 6 a.m. Nov. 6 when she was confronted by Ruth in the hospital parking lot.

The woman told police that Ruth forced her into an SUV and assaulted her before taking her to a La Feria residence in the 1000 block of Ken La Park, the release said.

The woman was left alone inside the house and was able to dial 911, police said. Police said Ruth fled the scene when he discovered that police had been summoned. La Feria police located Ruth later that morning and turned him over to Harlingen police, according to police.

Ruth was charged with burglary of habitation with intent to commit another felony and bond was set at $40,000. He was also charged with two counts of aggravated assault with bonds set at $25,000 each and a kidnapping charge with bond set at $10,000.

Police Sgt. Merriam Anderson said Ruth was not a stranger to the victims but said that police were still investigating the nature of their relationships and possible motive for the stabbing.