Eddie Townswend

A 69-year-old man who died one month after he was reportedly stabbed during a robbery while doing yardwork outside of his Graymont Avenue home was actually wounded by his daughter and made up the robbery story to protect her, police announced today.

Eddie Casmer Townsend was found stabbed about 2:15 p.m. May 6. Townsend told police he was doing yard work when three young men walked up to the man and demanded money. The victim, police said, threw up his hands and said he didn't have anything. One of the assailants went through Townsend's pockets. He was then stabbed three times in the abdomen with a knife that had about a three-inch blade. Police said the suspects fled the scene, and left the knife behind.

Townsend collapsed on his front porch, where neighbors came to his aid. He said his wife wasn't home at the time.

He was taken to UAB Hospital where he remained until his death one month later. The incident prompted outrage that a man simply working in his yard was attacked, and had neighbors fearing they might be next.

Birmingham police today, however, said none of it was true. Detectives learned the incident actually stemmed from a domestic altercation involving Townsend and his wife. His wife called their two daughters to the home and, when they arrived, they attempted to restrain Townsend who was wielding a knife.

It was then, said Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Sean Edwards, that one of the daughters stabbed Townsend, who then quickly made up the story to protect his daughter. Police said there had been a previous history of domestic violence at the home.

"The detectives did an outstanding job in this case,'' Edwards said. "Their attention to detail proved to be extremely valuable."

"Unfortunately, bad information can cause unnecessary concern in our communities,'' he said. "Our citizens thought the victim was killed by strangers, but it was actually family related."

Birmingham homicide detectives presented the case to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, which declined to pursue charges against the daughter due to the details surrounding the domestic incident. The stabbing has been ruled justifiable, and therefore will not be counted as a criminal homicide.

"This is one of the most bizarre homicide cases I've ever seen,'' said Birmingham police Chief A.C. Roper. "There are so many issues and factors which affected the family and the community. I clearly remember the concern as our initial thought was cold blooded killers were on the loose after taking this man's life."

"The stabbing aspect seemed strange but we had no reason to doubt the victim at that time,'' Roper said. "Our detectives did an outstanding job chasing leads and interviewing family members and other potential sources of information. Their commitment and diligence paid off and the truth has finally come out."