UPDATED: Man stabbed numerous times during dispute Saturday night; Lawson in custody

A local man is in custody after police say he stabbed another man with a knife numerous times during a dispute near Corbin late Saturday night.

According to Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell, 44-year-old Jerry L. Lawson has been charged with second-degree assault following the incident. He was taken into custody at a residence on Stoney Fork Road about an hour after the stabbing occurred.

The stabbing happened at a home on High Top Road near Corbin. Police received a 911 call and immediately responded to the scene. The victim, 24-year-old Adam Hart, had left the scene by the time authorities arrived and was taken to Baptist Health Corbin in a personal vehicle. He was later airlifted to the University of Kentucky Medical Center."

Hart was apparently stabbed four times in the back. No motive has been given for the crime.

Lawson refused a request for an interview Tuesday. Review of the 911 call reporting the incident reveals only that that the caller said the stabbing happened at her sister’s residence.

Lawson appeared in Whitley District Court in Corbin Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which is a felony. He remained in jail as of press time on a $100,000 bond.

Deputies with the Sheriff’s Department, assisted by Kentucky State Police and Corbin Police, began a search for Lawson.

Deputy Sheriff Shawn Jackson tracked Lawson down and he was taken into custody without incident. Recovered by authorities was a small pocketknife believed to be the weapon used in the stabbing.