Man charged with capital murder
Russellville police investigators Joe Hargett and Scotty Lowery escort Andres Pascual Francisco to the city jail Friday. He is charged with capital murder. | Nathan Strickland/FCT
A Russellville man faces capital murder charges after a stabbing victim was pronounced dead at Huntsville Hospital, authorities said.
Russellville Police investigator Lt. Scotty Lowery said Andres Pascual Francisco, 26, 306 S. Carroll Ave., Russellville, was located on Eighth Street Southwest in Decatur and was taken into custody just before 11 a.m. on the charge of capital murder.
Authorities said the stabbing occurred around 10:30 p.m. Thursday inside the victim’s vehicle on South Carroll Avenue.
“The victim suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest, a cut to the torso area and sustained a severe cut to the throat,” Lowery said. “The District Attorney’s office has ordered an autopsy to be performed on the body and those results will probably be available the first of next week.”
Franklin County Courthouse officials said the victim, 20-year-old Francisco Valasquez, was pronounced dead just before noon Friday.
Lowery said Valasquez’s vehicle was about 150 yards from his residence and he was able to get to his home and notify family members inside what had happened.
Emergency personnel arrived a short time later and transported Valasquez to Russellville Hospital, where he was then airlifted to Huntsville Hospital.
Officials said Valasquez must have known Francisco because he was able to tell family members who were visiting with him at Huntsville Hospital who had stabbed him just before he died.
The Russellville Police Department was immediately notified of the suspect and was able to track him down and make the arrest.
Authorities said no bond has been set as of yet because of the severity of the charge.
Officials said Francisco was initially charged with attempted murder. That charge was changed to capital murder once Valasquez passed away.
Francisco was being held at the Russellville City jail awaiting transfer to the Franklin County Jail.
Andres Pascual Francisco
Valasquez is the second person to be fatally stabbed to death in nearly one month in Russellville.
