The Herald-News - News Story

    A Dayton man is accused of robbing and attempting to murder his brother on May 3.
    Rocael Rafael Sanchez, 24, of Dayton Mountain Highway, was arrested on Oct. 25, in connection with the May incident. He was charged with robbery and attempted murder. As of Friday afternoon, Sanchez was still in Rhea County Jail; bond was set at $25,000.
    Sanchez is accused of going to the Pope Street home of his brother, Juan Sanchez, around 10 p.m. on May 3, according to an affidavit of complaint filed in Rhea County General Sessions Court on May 27 by Juan Sanchez.
    “He was in my home and started an argument with Hosa, who was living with me,” Juan Sanchez stated in the complaint.
    He went on to report that Hosa and Rafael went outside and continued to fight. Juan allegedly tried to stop the fight by grabbing his brother’s arm and telling him to leave, the complaint states. According to Juan’s statement, Rafael then went inside the house and came out yielding a butcher’s knife.
    The complaint alleges that Rafael stabbed Juan in the abdomen, and while Juan was lying on the ground, Rafael took several hundred dollars from his pocket.
    Juan was taken by private vehicle to Rhea Medical Center (RMC) for treatment and was subsequently airlifted to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, where he remained for six days, according to the affidavit.
    “His actions have put me in fear for my life,” Juan stated in the complaint.
Rhea County Sheriff’s deputy Jeff Taylor reported in an incident report that he spoke briefly with Juan at RMC, before he was airlifted to Erlanger.
    “I was advised by ER personnel that he had a severe cut to his abdomen that was consistent with a knife wound,” Taylor reported.
    Early the next morning, Taylor indicated in his report that he spoke with Rafael, but because of a language barrier and the absence of a translator, he was unable to determine what had taken place to cause the injuries to Juan.
    According to the Sheriff’s Department, the charges against Rafael Sanchez are expected to be presented to the Rhea County Grand Jury on Jan. 20, 2009.
    Michelle Friesen can be reached at michelle.friesen@rheaheraldnews.com.