Woman stabbed at Poplar Bluff convenience store

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., (KBSI) — A woman was stabbed multiple times Sunday night at a convenience store, and police are seeking information about the attacker.

The stabbing occurred around 10:39 p.m. at Casey’s General Store in the 500 block of East Pine Boulevard.

The 40-year-old victim was taken to a hospital and later flown to another facility for treatment.

The victim told police she didn’t know her attacker.

“It appears that this was just a completely random act. He didn’t know the victim. The victim didn’t know him? really? No good explanation as to why he did what he did. or why he specifically targeted her,” said Stewart. 

Lieutenant Joshua Stewart says surveillance video helped him piece together this scary situation. He’s with the criminal investigations division at the Police Department.

Stewart says that video and witnesses helped lead him to the suspect. 

“We’re able to get some more footage and stuff and obtain some potential images of the suspect and then kind of pushed forward through that. And we’re able to get a possible identification and then follow up and make contact with who we believe our suspect was just within the last half hour or so,” said Stewart. 

Stewart says information from the victim also helped as she’s saying she told him she had no idea who attacked her.

The victim was able to give a description eventually helping police catch up with Timothy Bishop, a 33-year-old man from Poplar Bluff. 

Police say they still aren’t sure of a motive for the attack. 

“No robbery as a motive or anything. I mean, there was no attempt to take anything. Her bag was her backpack. She had a backpack with her, and it was laying outside where, you know, it appeared undisturbed from where she had been. You know where she dropped it? Whenever she was stabbed, she, of course, you know, fled inside the business. if for nothing else, hopefully just to seek shelter from this person. But, also to try to get someone to help. Help or, you know, help render aid and that kind of thing,” said Stewart. 

Investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing potential witnesses.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact the Poplar Bluff Police Department at 573-785-5776.