St. Pete man tried to stab friend to death after sex, deputies say

ST. PETERSBURG — Mark Kimball showed up to his friend's place looking for a good time Thursday evening. He left with a bloody towel wrapping the wounds on his neck as he searched on the street for help.

According to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Kimball, 54, went to the home of his friend Michael Drake on the 5200 block of 77th Street N for sex. Afterward, Kimball told deputies, Drake, 38, attacked him with a knife, cutting his neck multiple times then leaving.

Alone in the house, Kimball wrapped a towel around his neck and walked up the street looking for help. He was found in a yard a few houses up, where a resident called 911.

Kimball was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

About five hours later, deputies were searching the area for Drake when they received a call about a robbery in progress nearby, in the 5200 block of 79th Street N. There, they found Drake. The Sheriff's Office said he had gone to a nearby acquaintance's house, but they didn't want him there. The caller declined to press charges once deputies arrived.

Drake admitted to the attack, deputies said, and a 10- to 12-inch kitchen knife was recovered from his home.

Drake is being held in Pinellas County Jail, charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder.

The Sheriff's Office said Kimball is still recovering from serious injuries but is expected to survive.

Drake has been arrested in the past on charges including battery and battery by strangulation, according to Pinellas jail records.

This is a developing story. Stay with tampabay.com for updates.

Daniel Figueroa IV can be reached at dfigueroa@tampabay.com. Follow @danuscripts