Sleeping Savannah man slashed, attempted murder charge filed

March 11– A 60-year-old Savannah man told police he awoke Wednesday to find his house-mate trying to kill him.

Elijah Graham, 55, was arrested on a charge of attempted second degree murder in connection with the attack that left Pat N. Durbin bloodied and in the hospital.

Savannah police were dispatched to 235 Cravens Drive at 6:46 a.m. upon getting a call that Durbin had been assaulted by "Skipper" Graham.

Patrolman Dusty Parrish reported Durbin said Graham had been staying with him. He said he woke up and Graham was "choking him and cutting him with a knife," and threatening, "I’m going to kill you punk a-- b----."

Durbin, his face and chest covered in blood, had several lacerations on the right and left side of his face, and gashes on both sides of his throat and behind his neck.

Durbin described the knife used in the cutting as being about 6 inches long, with a dark handle.

Parrish said he went next door and found Graham lying on a couch. A dark green pocket knife with what appeared to be blood on the blade was in his pocket.

The preliminary investigative report states several rooms in the residence were bloody, and that two shot glasses and a bottle of vodka were taken into evidence.

Graham’s bond was set at $100,000 and he remained held at the Hardin County Jail today.

A hearing in the case is set for Tuesday in General Sessions Court.