A Le Mars man is now charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of another man on January 24th.  According to Plymouth County District court records, 35-year-old Jody O’Keefe is accused of repeatedly stabbing 32-year-old Samuel Toliver of Le Mars in the chest and neck with a butcher knife.

Le Mars Police had arrested O’Keefe just after the stabbing and charged him with attempted murder and murder in the second degree. Authorities said O’Keefe and Toliver were working for different contractors at a construction site south of Le Mars.

The stabbing occurred in O’Keefe’s apartment in downtown Le Mars. A judge has raised O’Keefe’s bond from $200,000 dollars to one- million dollars and set a February 18th arraignment date. O’Keefe is being held in the Plymouth County jail.