Verona’s Conklin, 24, charged with murder

 Claims he acted in self-defense
A Verona man was taken into custody after he allegedly stabbed a man on the evening of Tuesday, July 30. Randall Conklin, 24, is charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action.
According to the probable cause statement in the case, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received a call on July 30 for a disturbance in progress in Verona. A Lawrence County deputy sheriff arrived, made contact with Conklin, and placed him in custody.
The deputy then went to a vehicle which was pointed out to him, and found the victim, identified as Izri Isai Estrada-Cifuentes, 24, of Marionville. The deputy reported that he found Estrada-Cifuentes dead in the vehicle.
Conklin was then transported to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office in Mt. Vernon where, after receiving a Miranda warning, he admitted to stabbing Estrada-Cifuentes but claimed self-defense, stating the Estrada-Cifuentes pulled out a knife and threatened him with it.
According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, Estrada-Cifuentes suffered a stab wound to the neck-chest area.
Conklin was booked into the Lawrence County Jail later on July 30; he appeared in court on Thursday, Aug. 1, where he was arraigned and is scheduled to appear again on Thursday, Aug. 8 for a bond hearing. As of press time, he remained in custody without bond.