The Rib House

The Defendant and the victim worked together as dishwashers at Danny's Rib House restaurant in Nitro, West Virginia. The two had gotten along well before the incident on February 12, 1993. That night, the victim, his brother Tracy, and a co-worker were joking around in the kitchen while working. The victim snapped the Defendant several times with a wet dishtowel; one snap hit the Defendant in the nose. The Defendant, who suffered from panic attacks, chronic depression, body dysmorphic disorder centered on his nose, and borderline personality disorder, became enraged. He removed his work gloves, reached into his pocket, drew a knife, and stabbed the victim in the neck, killing him. When the victim cried out that he was just kidding, the Defendant replied, "Well, man, you should have never hit me in my face." The Defendant later testified at trial that he suffered an intense panic attack immediately before the stabbing and could not recall the act itself. A psychiatrist found him sane but said his disorders may have affected his perception. A Police officer testified that when told of the victim's death, the Defendant remarked, "That's too bad, buddy. Do you think it'll snow?"