A Benton County man accused of stabbing his lover to death before waiting for police while covered in blood was declared mentally fit to stand trial Tuesday in Benton County.
A mental evaluation carried out on Leon Louis Lincoln found the Bella Vista murder suspect has the mental capacity to understand the charges against him and stand trial. The findings were discussed at a mental status hearing in Benton County Circuit Court on Tuesday morning, after which Judge Robin Green ruled Lincoln was fit, according to the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.
The first-degree murder case had been suspended while the mental evaluation process went forward. Lincoln’s trial is now scheduled to begin Sept. 8, according to the prosecutor.
Lincoln, 40, was living in the house at 12 Thaxted Dr. with Theresa Voshell and several other people the night Lincoln allegedly stabbed the 46-year-old Voshell in the neck, face, thigh and shoulders, according to a preliminary report from the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office.
Lincoln was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. He remains in the Benton County Jail on $500,000 bond.
Voshell allegedly told witnesses, “He stabbed me,” as Lincoln sat on the street outside the house, covered in blood on the night of Oct. 13, 2012, according to police accounts.
Lincoln was on parole and has been convicted of nine crimes since 1990, including theft of property, burglary, battery and robbery. He was convicted of breaking and entering in March of 2011.
Police and emergency crews were called to the home at 6:17 a.m. They found Voshell gurgling blood. She had multiple stab wounds, police said. She was taken to Mercy Hospital in Bella Vista, where she died from her injuries.
When police arrived on scene, they gathered the six people at the house together and attempted to revive an unconscious Voshell. Lincoln was found sitting the street covered in blood, the preliminary report states.
Another occupant of the house told police Lincoln and Voshell had been drinking heavily that night. Voshell was drinking vodka, and Lincoln was drinking Hot Damn up until at least about 5 a.m. Saturday morning. The couple often got drunk and argued with each other, but were calm the night of the stabbing, the eyewitness told police.
Others in the house woke up when Voshell yelled for help. The blood that covered Voshell made her unrecognizable, an eyewitness told police. Lincoln and Voshell had been in Voshell’s room, but Lincoln was no longer there, the report states.
The report states Voshell staggered around the room and said, “He stabbed me,” before falling to the ground unconscious. She never woke up. An occupant immediately called police.
Police recovered a large knife with a curved blade that they placed into evidence.
