David Slone
Times-Union

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed Tuesday, May 27, on Sunday, the Kosciusko County Central Dispatch advised of a stabbing at a residence on Detroit Street in Warsaw.

Officers learned Fitzpatrick had stabbed another man. When a Warsaw detective responded to the scene, he learned Fitzpatrick had left and then returned in a minivan. The stabbing victim was taken to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne for medical treatment.

The detective spoke with a woman who was staying at the residence and said she was asleep on the couch. When she woke up, the victim and Fitzpatrick were screaming for someone to call 911, and then they both ran into the bedroom. The woman saw that the victim had blood on his neck and she put pressure on his wound. The woman indicated the victim said Fitzpatrick cut/stabbed him, and Fitzpatrick did not recognize him, according to the affidavit. The woman explained that Fitzpatrick was frantic during the incident and he screamed he didn’t know.

The detective spoke with a second woman who said the victim had hung out with Fitzpatrick the previous day, and the first woman was spending the night at the residence. The second woman said she was upset with Fitzpatrick, and she locked herself in the bedroom. She heard the victim end a phone cal,l and Fitzpatrick ran into the locked bedroom door, and she heard the victim say, “What did the door knock you silly?” Fitzpatrick said, “Yeah, ha ha ha,” and then it got quiet.

The second woman explained she then heard footsteps, then the victim said, “No, no, no help, 911.” She saw Fitzpatrick holding a t-shirt on the victim’s neck. The victim told the woman that Fitzpatrick thought he was an intruder and the victim said, “Zeke, why did you stab me?” Fitzpatrick jumped over the balcony railing and left the scene.

The detective spoke with Fitzpatrick, read him his Miranda rights and Fitzpatrick waived his rights, court documents state. Fitzpatrick said someone was manipulating the second woman and he and the victim are tight and hang out every day.

Fitzpatrick said he freaked out because he thought someone was in the closet, under the bed or right behind the second woman. Fitzpatrick said he looked around, the victim collapsed and there was blood. Fitzpatrick apologized to the victim for giving him a heart attack or if he fell or whatever he did to the victim.

Court documents say Fitzpatrick said he did not know how the victim was cut and his switch knife he had earlier in the day was gone. Fitzpatrick explained the victim looked like a monster and Fitzpatrick said, “I don’t even know what I’m doing to you right now, but I know that I’m not hurting you. I’m trying to help you.” Fitzpatrick indicated the victim was in shock and said Fitzpatrick had stabbed him. Fitzpatrick said the victim did not try to attack him.

Fitzpatrick rambled on a variety of topics, broke out in tears and was hysterical, court documents say. Fitzpatrick said, “I didn’t mean to kill him” and he asked if he did something to the first woman, too. He admitted he left the scene.

The detective searched the minivan and found a fixed blade with a black handle kitchen knife with a reddish-brown tint residue on the blade near the handle.

Warsaw officers searched the residence, found blood droplets on the kitchen floor, blood smear on a support beam and a cell phone on the concrete pad of the balcony. Officers also found blood smear on the balcony railing.

In the master bedroom, the detective found a black knife that Fitzpatrick previously described as his switch knife. The knife blade appeared to have multiple areas with a reddish tint. The detective also found a pair of Fitzpatrick’s blue jeans with blood droplets on the front that contained a balled-up piece of bubble wrap that contained several small bags with a hard rock-like substance that later field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Officers also found blood on a small onesie and a gray blood-soaked tank top on the floor. Other articles of clothing also were found having blood on them.

The detective spoke with the victim, who said he and Fitzpatrick had a regular day and everything was good. He said he sat at the kitchen table at the residence when Fitzpatrick stabbed him in the neck and left the pectoral area six times. The detective saw the victim was visibly upset when he spoke about the incident, court documents indicate. The victim indicated he yelled, ran to the bedroom, collapsed and the first woman applied pressure to his wounds.

The victim described the knife Fitzpatrick used to stab him as a switchblade knife that Fitzpatrick had shown him earlier in the day. Fitzpatrick told the victim he thought the victim was an intruder.

A no-contact order was issued between Fitzpatrick and the victim.

Fitzpatrick was previously convicted of possession of marijuana on July 31, 2023; possession of methamphetamine, July 31, 2023; auto theft and battery, July 13, 2021; and resisting law enforcement, July 31, 2023, all in Kosciusko County.