Updated: Woman dies after stabbing near Lexington’s Southland Drive. Suspect arrested
A 54-year-old woman was stabbed to death at a home off Southland Drive in Lexington early Saturday, and police said they have a suspect in custody.
Leslie Bales was pronounced dead as a result of “multiple sharp force injuries” on Stratford Drive at 3:30 a.m., the Fayette County coroner’s office said in a news release Saturday afternoon.
Police charged Justus Bales, 25, with murder — domestic violence and booked him into the jail Saturday at approximately 4:45 p.m., according to jail records. He’s being held on a $750,000 bond.
Lexington police said they were called to a home on the 400 block of Stratford Drive at 2:29 a.m. about an assault with a weapon.
Police said they found the woman suffering from “multiple stab wounds.”
Police did not immediately release the name of the person charged. They said the investigation is ongoing.
It was the city’s eighth homicide of the year.
Police asked that anyone with information about the case call them at (859) 258-3600. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at (859) 253-2020, visiting Bluegrasscrimestoppers.com or through the P3 tips app at P3tips.com.
Herald-Leader reporter Chris Leach contributed to this story.
This story was originally published March 19, 2022 at 11:50 AM.
