EDINBURGH — Steven Gavin, 34, of Taylorsville, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection to the fatal stabbing of a man in Edinburgh.
The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office announced Friday that Garvin will face charges of voluntary manslaughter, a Level 2 felony, and possession of methamphetamine, a Level 5 felony) after allegedly stabbing and killing 48-year-old Michael Gene Adair.
On Monday, May 6, 2024, around 12:22 a.m. Edinburgh Police Department officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 6400 block of East State Road 252.
They found the victim, 48-year-old Michael G. Adair of Edinburgh, had suffered a stab wound to his body. Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Adair was pronounced dead at the scene.
They detained Gavin at the scene and took him in for questioning. Four other people were at the apartment before the stabbing, according to a probable cause affidavit.
One of the witnesses reportedly told investigators that a fight broke out between Garvin and Adair after the victim arrived at the apartment and began yelling and telling people to leave.
Garvin allegedly refused to leave a bedroom within the apartment where he and Adair threw punches at one another after arguing, court documents said.
The witness then heard Adair yell, “You (explicative),” before seeing a knife sticking out of his chest under his armpit, the affidavit says. The witness proceeded to help by applying pressure to the wound. Adair then collapsed, causing the knife to fall out of the wound.
Adair then collapsed as Garvin allegedly began “panicking, screaming, and running around.” The witness performed CPR, and Garvin assisted before they asked him to call for help.
The same witness claimed Garvin left the residence before returning with another individual.
Another witness told detectives that they were hanging out with Adair when he was notified that people were inside his apartment. The pair drove over, and the witness remained in the vehicle while Adair entered the apartment to tell everyone to leave.
The witness claimed two people exited the residence. A few minutes passed before Garvin allegedly ran out of the apartment asking for help while stating that he had accidentally stabbed Adair, court documents said.
Police then arrived on the scene. Garvin asked investigators multiple times if Adair was alright and said they were “only playing.” Garvin reportedly “acted as if he was crying, but no tears were observed,” according to court documents.
After securing a search warrant, officers located a knife with blood on it, a baggie containing meth, a bag of marijuana, and three cell phones.
Detectives reviewed a 911 recording where Garvin could be heard allegedly telling dispatch that Adair had “fallen on a knife,” contradicting his previous account of what happened.
Detectives said Garvin allegedly changed his story when detailing how Adair ended up being stabbed. Garvin proceeded to deny that he and Adair were involved in an altercation. He told police the pair were only playing around and that he “did not kill that dude.”
Garvin stated he and Adair began tackling and pinching each other. Adair then slapped him on the neck with two fingers, and he responded by throwing something at Adair. Adair ducked and pushed him.
At one point, Garvin said it was as if the knife suddenly appeared in Adair.
During a second interview with another detective, Garvin said he went to Adair’s apartment to meet someone to trade heroin for meth.
During a third interview, Garvin was asked about the charges, and he stated that “20 years is justifiable.”
Garvin told police he and Adair were friends and that he had offered to cut up some drugs to share with Adair. Garvin claimed Adair struck him on the back of his head with his fists, so he pushed Adair back.
After the initial push, Garvin admitted he had a knife in his hand and that he had “hit” Adair with it, saying, “I (explicative) had it, and I hit him.” Garvin also demonstrated how he made a swinging stabbing motion at Adair.
Garvin then realized what he had done and told Adair not to pull the knife out, the affidavit says.
Garvin is scheduled to appear in an initial hearing in Johnson Superior Court 3 on Monday, May 20, at 1:30 p.m.
Garvin was previously convicted of dealing meth in 2017.
