Police found victim leaving bloody trail

Larry Kline

Havre Daily News

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Havre police followed a trail of blood to the scene of a stabbing early Saturday morning.

Officers aren't sure what precipitated the fight, but it left 32-year-old Curtis Onco III of Havre bleeding from four stab wounds - one in the hip and three in the abdomen, Assistant Police Chief George Tate said Monday.

Onco was listed in fair condition at Northern Montana Hospital on Monday, hospital spokeswoman Kathie Newell said.

Following a search of his residence, police arrested Marques Chapman, 22, of Havre on charges of attempted deliberate homicide, tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers were responding to a 911 hangup call made about 3:48 a.m., which originated from Chapman's residence, when they came across Onco, who was walking in the 600 block of 10th Street. After giving a brief statement, Onco was transported to NMH, Tate said.

Police then “followed a blood trail to the suspect's residence,” obtained a search warrant and found a 12-inch serrated kitchen knife that appeared to have been used in the stabbing and then wiped, Tate said. Officers also found a marijuana pipe at the residence located in the 1100 block of Sixth Avenue, he said.

A 20-year-old woman, Tiffiney Niehoff, was arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of children and minor in possession of an intoxicant. Police don't believe Niehoff was involved in the assault, Tate said. Two children, one age 2 and another younger than 1, were in the home, he said.

Tate said officers aren't quite sure what happened. Onco knew both Chapman and Niehoff and often stayed nights there, he said, and all three were intoxicated.

“Somehow an altercation broke out,” he said. “We're not sure what precipitated that.”

The Havre Police Department will turn the case over to the Hill County Attorney's Office, he said.