Sword, bloody items recovered after attack that nearly severed man's arms

Ralph Martinez Jr., 33, was arrested on a complaint of assault and battery with a deadly weapon after the Oct. 23 incident that left Broderick Wayne Townsend “cut severely from head to toe,” according to police.

A witness found Townsend lying in a pool of blood in his home at 741½ SE Brinkley about 11 p.m.

A police affidavit said he had “severe injuries to the point of near amputation of his arms, severe lacerations to his head, torso, legs, arms and feet.”

Townsend was treated for his injuries at OU Medical Center.

He told police Martinez attacked him with a machete after driving him home.

Townsend said the attack might have been prompted by rumors that he had fathered Martinez's child rather than Martinez.

Martinez was interviewed by police about the attack on Townsend, who he knew by the name “Wayne.” A neighbor told police Martinez returned home and said, “I went up there and - - - - ed Wayne up. Wayne's probably dead.”

Police got a search warrant for Martinez's home and found several items they believed had blood on them, items possibly used by Martinez to clean up after the attack and a “large curve blade sword.”

Martinez was being held Monday at the Oklahoma County jail.