Crime & Courts

Suspect accused of burying knife in man’s skull at party near Fairbanks

A 22-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after he cut one man with a knife at a party near Fairbanks last weekend, then lodged the blade in another man's head, troopers said.

Court records show Michael Jamar Reynolds, 22, also faces two counts of first-degree assault in the Sunday case.

Troopers said in an affidavit supporting the case against Reynolds that they were called to a South Henderson Road home in Ester at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday. The wounded men were identified as Anthony Ryles and his friend Jordan Brown.

Ryles told troopers he had been at a party with Reynolds' ex-girlfriend, which led to Reynolds watching Ryles and then having a "stare-down" with him until other guests separated the two. Reynolds allegedly returned and got into a fight with Brown, during which he cut Brown three times on the face and neck.

At that point, troopers said, Ryles tried to pull Reynolds off Brown.

"Reynolds stabbed Ryles in the head above his left ear with enough force to embed the knife in his skull," troopers wrote. "Ryles attempted to remove the knife but was told not to by bystanders."

Both Ryles and Brown were treated at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, with Ryles flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. Medics discovered that more than half of the 2-inch blade had penetrated Ryles' skull, but he was in stable condition immediately after surgery and in good condition at Providence Friday morning.

Reynolds was arraigned Wednesday, according to court records, with a public defender appointed to represent him. He remained in custody Friday morning at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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