Farmington Man Arrested In Stabbing Death

A Farmington man, Corey Lee Ryan, 24, is facing charges of felony capital murder, aggravated robbery and vehicle theft following a fatal stabbing Sept. 6 in a Fayetteville motel, according to a Fayetteville police report.

Fayet tevi l le po l i ce also charged Erick Picker-Ramirez, 34, of Fayetteville and Stephen Cody Scott, 23, of Springdale with accomplice to capital murder, aggravated robbery and vehicle theft, stemming from the same incident.

All three were still being held without bond Tuesday night in the Washington County Detention Center.

The three men were arrested Sept. 8 in the stabbing death of Gustavo Ortiz, 33, of Springdale, according to the a news release from the Fayetteville Police Department. Ortiz was stabbed in the neck in Room 228 at the Econo Lodge motel on South Futrall Drive. He died at Washington Regional Medical Center.

According to the arrest report, the three men were in the motel room to buy drugs from the victim.

A fight broke out and Picker-Ramirez said Scott pulled a knife, according to the reports. Ryan told police he grabbed the knife and stabbed the victim in fear for his life, according to the reports. Ryan said the man collapsed and Pick- er-Ramirez and Scott went through his pockets and took his car keys and money, according to the reports.

Items belonging to Ryan and Picker- Ramirez were found in the room, according to the reports.

Police said witnesses saw three men flee the vicinity of the crime scene in a dark-colored compact car.

Ryan was arrested shortly after 5 a.m. Sept. 8 at 5640 E. Ray Payne Drive in Fayetteville.