Stabbing victim dies at local hospital - Accused assailant faces charges in stabbing death of next-door neighbor

A 36-year-old local man stabbed in an apparant altercation with his neighbor July 29 died Thursday night, marking Lebanon's first homicide in 18 months.
Charles Kieren of 301A Martin Ave. in Lebanon, died Thursday at University Medical Center after being in intensive care for several days.
Police said the suspected assailant, Anthony G. Whited, was Kieren's next-door neighbor, who resided at 301B Martin Ave. in a duplex unit along with Whited. He is in custody at the Wilson County Jail.
Lebanon Police Chief Scott Bowen said his department would present evidence to the grand jury next week, likely upgrading the charges.
"You could do it one of two ways – you could either have a new warrant drawn with the charge or you could present the facts to the grand jury," Bowen said Friday. "Since the suspect is still in custody at the jail, we'll probably present the evidence to the grand jury since the grand jury's about a week away."
Bowen did not reveal a motive for the altercation, which occurred at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The chief told The Lebanon Democrat last week several witnesses saw Whited stab Kieren, and Whited was taken into custody at the scene.
Whited remained in the Wilson County Jail on $100,000 bond and charged with attempted criminal homicide.
This was the first murder in Lebanon since February 2005 when Eldon Bates was stabbed to death on Mimosa Court. His son, Tommy Lee Bates, is accused of killing him. Bates is set to appear before a jury Nov. 27.
Although Bowen said he is proud Lebanon has gone so far between murders, it's cold comfort in a case like this.
"Fortunately for us, it has been that length of time," Bowen said. "We hate to have any. … (Kieren) was actually, we believe, deceased at the scene and UMC did some great work to revive him, and unfortunately it didn't turn out the way we would have liked. … Now we've got a job to do and that's what we're going to try to do."
"Those are the type of homicides we can't control … but the officers have done a very good job of stopping the ones on the street corners, the drug-related stuff which has been going on for quite some time," Public Safety Commissioner Billy Weeks said. "Obviously, all good things, I guess, have to end."
Staff Writer Jason Cox can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 45 or by e-mail at jason.cox@lebanondemocrat.com.