Man jailed in Otsego knife attack

By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer

May 05, 2008 04:00 am

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A Schoharie County man was jailed Sunday after he allegedly stabbed a Schenevus resident several times in his county Route 34 home.

Gerald W. Jenkins Jr., 44, of Richmondville, was charged with first-degree assault, a felony punishable by up to 25 years in prison, and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a misdemeanor.

Jenkins went to the home of Dean Drysdale, 40, and stabbed Drysdale "multiple" times in the back, chest, arms and hands, said Investigator Michael Ten Eyck of the Otsego County Sheriff's Department.

A kitchen-type knife believed to have been used in the attack was recovered, Ten Eyck said.

Some of the wounds could be classified as defensive, he said.

A dispute involving a woman appears to be the motivation for the attack, which happened shortly after midnight Sunday, Ten Eyck said.

Drysdale, who doesn't have a phone in his home, went to a neighbor's house for help, he added.

The Worcester Emergency Squad transported Drysdale to A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition in the intensive care unit Sunday night.

Jenkins left Schenevus but was caught at his Richmondville home by Cobleskill state police at about 1:30 a.m., according to deputies.

Oneonta troopers transported Jenkins back to Otsego County where he was turned over to deputies at about 2:15 a.m. He was arraigned later Sunday morning in Maryland Town Court.

Jenkins was sent to Otsego County jail on $50,000 bail to await a felony hearing Tuesday night.

District Attorney John Muehl said Jenkins may face second-degree attempted murder charges depending on the results of interviews with the medical staff that treated Drysdale.

"It's probably more than a possibility," Muehl said. "It depends on what the doctors have to say."

Although first-degree assault and attempted murder are both class B felonies, the attempted murder charge might be more appropriate given the circumstances of the case and the wounds, Muehl said.

Drysdale was conscious during the day Sunday and is cooperating with investigators, Muehl said.