AHSAHKA, ID – A 44-year-old man who allegedly stabbed another man to death early this morning is being held on a $750,000 bond after being charged with First-Degree Murder along with a Persistent Violator charge. According to a Probable Cause Affidavit, Andrew Jeb Martson reportedly called 911 at 1:52 a.m. and told the dispatcher that he had “just killed someone” by “stabbing him.”
Clearwater County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a trailer at 43 Happy Loop in Ahsahka a short time later.
“When Deputies arrived on scene they found a deceased male,” a press release from the CCSO says.
“The victim [has] been identified as Ronnie Lee Cheney 38 [years] of [age]from Casper Wyoming,” an updated press release says.
A Status Conference for Martson was set for February 29th at 11:30 a.m. and a Preliminary Hearing was set for February 5th at 9:00 a.m. at the Clearwater County Courthouse.
“When I first arrived I saw a man seated on a white vehicle in front of a camper,” a deputy states in the affidavit. “I approached him and he told me that he had just stabbed his friend.”
The deputy inquired where the alleged victim was and Martson told him he was inside the camper, the document says, adding that Martson had “what appeared to me to be blood on his clothing and body.” The deputy reportedly asked if he had any weapons on him and Martson replied that he did not have any.
“I went to the camper to determine if someone was inside who may still be alive and in need of medical or other assistance,” the affidavit says. “As I opened the door, I could see the legs of someone lying on a bed hanging off the bed. I stepped inside the camper, and could see the body of an adult male. He was shirtless, but wearing pants.”
The deputy states in the affidavit that he observed multiple stab wounds to the man’s chest, and “an incredibly deep laceration across his throat which
appeared to nearly decapitate him. He appeared deceased. I could see a knife lying next to his head on the bed.”
After exiting the camper, the deputy placed Martson in handcuffs to clear the scene for medical responders to arrive.
The deputy read Martson his Miranda rights and asked Martson what happened.
He reportedly told the deputy that he and the alleged victim were “shooting up “dope” and he had a psychosis episode where he was hearing things telling him that [the man] needed to die,” the affidavit says. “He mumbled something unintelligible, and then said something which sounded like “I was going to [expletive] die.”
“During my interaction with Martson, he appeared to be under the influence of something. His eyes were red and jittery, coupled with unusual mannerisms (quick, jerky movements) and manner of speech (speaking very low, and very fast),” the document says.
Martson was transported to the Clearwater County Jail for the booking process, which included taking his clothing as evidence. The deputy also photographed his hands and face because “he appeared to have blood on his skin.”
Interviews with neighbors indicated that Martson had moved from somewhere in Montana during the last week or two “to turn his life around in relation to drug use,” the affidavit says.
The last known address for Martson is the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino, the affidavit says.
According to court records, Martson was sentenced to 3-12 years in prison in March 2017 after pleading guilty to Battery-Domestic Violence Inflicting Traumatic Injury in connection with a 2016 Latah County case. The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole held a parole hearing in May of 2023.
