Man survives an attempted murder: the suspect spending 14 years behind bars

MURPHYSBORO Ill. (KBSI) – A man speaking out after he says his friend tried to kill him. 

Cody Simon, a 21-year-old Carbondale man learns his fate and spending time behind bars. 

“A lot of adrenaline going on at the time and I just had this feeling that I wasn’t going to die today,” said Armparcha. 

Kenny Armparcha, he survived eight stabbing wounds. His hands, neck, head, and eye were all wounded. 

Still living as he tells us what happened the night, he says one of his former friends, Cody Simon tried to kill him. 

“That day I was supposed to go to work at Jimmy Johns and that day I stayed home sick. I’m in a friend group of people and the person that stabbed me was also in the friend group and the girl that basically all this happened over was the manager in our friend group. We all worked together,” said Armparcha. 

Armparcha says he was friends with Cody Simon, he explained to me they used to box together, work together, and after February 21, 2024, Armparcha is left with confusion and trauma.

His former friend left him with open wounds, nerve damage, and 18 thousand dollars in debt as Armparcha got evacuated from the apartment this happened in and also got dropped from school as he could not attend due to his wounds.  

“I mean to be honest it was really traumatic. I still have dreams about it and after it happened, I started sleeping with a knife under my pillow,” said Armparcha. 

Armparcha did a month worth of therapy after the incident but still took precautions at nighttime as he will never forget this day, even with Cody Simon behind bars. 

“He pretty much already pleaded his case that he was trying to kill me. He has no remorse about this whatsoever. He will be behind bars, so I don’t have to worry about that. I don’t know if he will ever come back after me but I’m sure I will be gone if he ever tries to come back after me or finish me off,” said Armparcha. 

Joe Cervantez is the Jackson County States Attorney who has been on this case since late February. 

Cervantez says that Cody Simon got into Armparcha’s apartment easily and had time to do damage. However, police arrived quickly enough to get Armpacha to the hospital and Simon into custody. 

“He explained that he got close to the victim after locking the door and he embraced him and said he was sorry and proceeded to stab him with a knife,” said Cervantez. 

Cervantez says he has been in contact with Armpacha and that it’s a miracle he is still breathing. 

“Anytime that there is a stabbing or an instance with a knife people are very lucky to be alive.”

Cody Simon is sentenced to 14 years behind bars. Families and victims are still hurting but thankful for some closure.