Thanksgiving Day Stabbing: Denver Former Marine Goes To Court

DENVER, CO – A former U.S. Marine, accused of fatally stabbing a fellow former Marine who was his Thanksgiving dinner houseguest, is scheduled to be arraigned in Denver criminal court July 2.

Chris Fernandez, 53, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Logan Crosby Kelly, 24, in Fernandez's home on Nov. 23, 2017.

Witnesses told police Kelly, a Florida native, had lived in Colorado for only three months and was invited, along with a co-worker, by Fernandez to his home in the 1500 block of South Patton Court for Thanksgiving dinner, according to an arrest affidavit.

The two men arrived at Fernandez's home around 2:15 p.m., drank beer and watched football on television, the co-worker told police. After dinner, the group, along with Fernandez's wife, played Pictionary. Fernandez and Kelly began to argue about the Marines, the witness told police. At one point Fernandez "hit Kelly a few times with the blunt end of an axe," but then the two made up and hugged. Before 10 p.m., the co-worker announced he was ready to leave, and he told police he went outside and started his truck. When he returned for Kelly, he told police Fernandez told him to leave without Kelly, the affidavit said. Believing Fernandez to be "kidding," the co-worker told police he drove his truck around the block, then parked with the engine running and returned to collect Kelly, the arrest affidavit said.

As he walked to the porch, he told police he observed Fernandez coming out of the house with a kitchen knife in his hand. Fernandez said, "I'm sorry," the man told police. When he walked past Fernandez into the house, he told police he saw Kelly lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He said he asked Fernandez what he did and Fernandez used a racial slur to describe Kelly. Police arrived around 10:04 p.m., the affidavit said.

When interviewed by police, Fernandez reportedly said he had "F---ed up" and said he didn't remember what had happened, but he knew he had blood all over him. At one point Fernandez said he remembered "sticking someone," but he couldn't remember with what, saying possibly a lead pipe. He also said he was drunk and couldn't remember what he had done.

Fernandez was taken into custody and has been held in Denver County Jail on no bail.

Kelly's death was caused by sharp force injuries, the Denver Medical Examiner said.

Kelly was described in his obituary as a man who was "kindhearted," and "never met a stranger, a guy who loved football, hunting, guns, and trucks; he was a 'Good ole Boy.'" He was buried in Green Cove Springs, Florida.