Sheriff: Missing Lexington Man Found Stabbed to Death

Lexington County deputies arrested a Leesville man Friday who they say stabbed and killed a Lexington man who was reported missing on March 9. 

Worth Edward Cook III, 26, of 815 Lee Gunter Road in Leesville is charged with murder, financial transaction card fraud and obtaining property under false pretenses. 

Deputies also arrested Richard Earl Barnes, 40, of 4127 Greenwood Drive in West Columbia and charged him with accessory after the fact to murder.  

Detectives recovered the body of 54-year-old David Johnathan Diblasi Friday in a grave in the backyard of Cook's home, according to the sheriff's department.

Diblasi died minutes after being stabbed in the left eye and suffering a fractured skull, according to the Lexington County Coroner's Office. He was also stabbed in the neck.

Diblasi was last seen on February 25 with Cook and Barnes, who knew Diblasi, according to arrest warrants. 

Surveillance video shows Barnes and Cook drove to Walmart on South Lake Drive on March 5 in a white 1997 Chrysler Town & Country van owned by Barnes’ girlfriend, according to the sheriff's department. Cook used Diblasi’s TD Bank credit card to buy baby supplies, including diapers.

Diblasi was not with Cook when Cook used Diblasi’s credit card to make the purchase, according to the sheriff's department. Cook’s girlfriend is pregnant.

Detectives dug up Diblasi's body Friday after obtaining a warrant to search Cook's house.

Arrest warrants allege that Cook stabbed Diblasi multiple times with a knife and later buried Diblasi’s body in his backyard. After Cook killed Diblasi, he cut up Diblasi’s white 1996 Isuzu Hombre pickup truck, which Diblasi had driven to Cook’s home. 

Detectives also say Barnes, who knew Diblasi had been reported missing and suspected he had been murdered, took the remaining parts of Diblasi’s pickup truck to Temple’s Verbe Auto Parts at 7303 Two Notch Road in Batesburg and sold them for metal recycling.

Deputies say Barnes also unsuccessfully tried to use Diblasi’s credit card to buy a saw at a home improvement center.

Cook is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing.

Barnes, who is also charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing 28 grams or less of marijuana, is being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on bail totaling $5,620.

Detectives are still investigating the motive for the fatal stabbing. 

Anyone with information about Barnes, Cook, Diblasi or the fatal stabbing of Diblasi should contact the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at 803-785-8230 or Crimestoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.