LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — A Pleasant Hill man has been charged in the deadly stabbing of Cody M. Harter on the side of a highway in Lee’s Summit.
Nicholas Webb, 58, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. Webb previously served time in prison for a 1980 murder.
According to court documents, Lee’s Summit police officers responded to I-470 near Colbern Road on a report of a man on the ground. When officers arrived, they found Harter with a large wound. His vehicle was still at the scene.
Harter's cause of death was determined to be an injury to the heart caused by a "single-edged knife."
Court documents say witnesses and surveillance video of Harter’s and Webb’s cars led police to Webb.
A witness told investigators he saw the suspect and victim's vehicles stopped along the side of the road at the time of the incident. He claims he saw the suspect swing at the victim, while the victim backed away. The witness said he then pulled over to dial 911 when he saw the suspect's car speed past him.
Investigators spoke to multiple witnesses who said they saw Harter with his hands in the air as the suspect shoved him.
Lee’s Summit police arrested Webb Wednesday.
Court documents say Webb told police he exchanged words with the driver of a truck and said he did get out of his vehicle. He also said Harter looked familiar.
Lee’s Summit police found out Webb had been arrested in Liberty on the same day Harter was killed. He was arrested for drug possession and driving under the influence. Information from that arrest showed Webb had a knife in his pants pocket and was driving a car that matched the description of the one spotted at the scene of Harter's death.
Prosecutors requested a bond of $250,000.
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Editor's note: A previous version of this story included information from court documents that said Webb was convicted in 1981 of stabbing someone to death. Upon further investigation, 41 Action News learned that death was caused by strangulation, not stabbing. The story has been updated.
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