Chattanooga man charged with homicide extradited from Georgia

Friday, February 24, 2012

photo Joshua Sterling Stoltz was arrested today in Valdosta, Ga., in connection with the death of a Harrison man. The body of David L. Murray, 46, was discovered Tuesday at 6422 Ware Branch Drive. At the time of the arrest, Joshua Sterling Stoltz, 19, was driving a 2005 red Ford truck that belonged to the victim, according to the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Stoltz was taken into custody on unrelated charges in Lowndes County, Ga., and is awaiting extradition to Tennessee where he faces charges of criminal homicide and theft over $10,000.

A man accused of killing a Harrison man with whom he was staying was extradited from Valdosta, Ga. and now faces charges of criminal homicide and theft, according to an arrest report.

Joshua Stoltz, 20, of Chattanooga is accused of beating and stabbing 46-year-old David L. Murray to death on Dec. 5. He remains at the Hamilton County Jail on a $800,000 bond after he was transferred to town on Thursday.

Murray was found lying in a pool of blood inside a residence at 6422 Ware Branch Cove Drive in Harrison after his sister called Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputies, saying she had not heard from him in days.

According to the medical examiner's report, he was stabbed as many as 10 times, mainly to the face area.

Stoltz, who frequently stayed with Murray, told someone, "he had killed his boss," according to the arrest report. Later, Stoltz was found driving Murray's 2005 Ford truck in Georgia and he was arrested on felony theft charges.

Stoltz's next court date is scheduled for March 5 before Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge David Bales.