A local businessman and the estranged wife of the victim have been indicted for attempted murder in the stabbing of Mike Hale in the parking lot of the VFW.
The suspects, Jack Redmon, 44, and Brooke L. Hale, 33, have both been indicted on the charge of attempted murder. They will face arraignment before Circuit Court Judge Bart Stanley later this month. Redmon remains held under $300,000 bond, while Hale is free having made her $100,000 bond.
They are charged with the stabbing of Mike Hale, 52, in the parking lot of the VFW on Sparta Highway on the afternoon of Aug. 9. According to evidence introduced at the preliminary hearing, the three had been bickering back and forth for weeks, each side allegedly making threats against the other. A series of calls between Hale, his estranged wife, and Redmon led to a showdown at the VFW during the late afternoon hours.
Hale was in the parking lot when Redmon and his estranged wife arrived on a motorcycle, accompanied by Tracey Bouldin and an unidentified woman. Bouldin was originally charged with being part of the murder conspiracy but later had those charges dropped.
According to Mr. Hale’s testimony, Redmon jumped off his motorcycle and charged him with a knife. Hale said he reached in his truck to get a pipe to defend himself but was stabbed a couple of times by his assailant.
Hale said his estranged wife was swinging a motorcycle helmet at him during the attack. Hale said he made a dash for the VFW and was chased by the group of four. He was able to make it inside and the four were stopped at the door by a VFW employee who forbade them from entering.
The employee said Mrs. Hale could be heard saying “let’s finish this today” as she was restraining them from going inside to pursue the wounded man. The suspects left the scene but were pulled over by police a short time later.
At issue at the preliminary hearing was whether Mr. Hale challenged them to a showdown at the VFW. Hale testified he was not looking for trouble. However, the defense maintained he had threatened to behead his estranged wife and was carrying around a machete in his vehicle.
The suspects could face 15 to 25 years in prison if they are convicted of attempted murder.