Clayton Courtney

Clayton Courtney

Janesville Police are trying to determine whether a man arrested for a stabbing on Sunday night is linked to the death of a woman whose body was found early this morning.

Police Chief David Moore says 28-year-old Clayton Courtney was arrested in connection with the non-fatal stabbing of a man, after police responded to reports of a fight at a home. Officers arriving at the residence found a 28-year-old man with multiple stab wounds, who was taken to a Janesville hospital for treatment. Courtney and the victim both lived in the home, along with another woman and two children.

Police say Courtney attempted to flee on foot, but was caught after a brief pursuit. The investigation found that Courtney and the victim had been fighting, after he had tried to set a car on fire that was inside a garage. Police say Courtney said during the fight that he had “already killed three people” Sunday night.

Officers searched the area around a bridge where Courtney had told people he was meeting a woman to drink and take drugs with earlier on Sunday. They found the body of a woman behind a nearby old furniture store. While police say the body of the woman found appears to be much younger than 75-year-old Mary Coulthard of Janesville, who was reported missing Sunday a short distance from the area, several of the Coulthard’s personal items were also found near a second bridge.

Courtney was arrested Sunday on charges from the stabbing incident that include Attempted First Degree Reckless Homicide, Attempted Arson, Criminal Damage, and Disorderly Conduct. As of Monday afternoon, Moore says he was not a suspect in the missing persons case or in connection with the body found by investigators. Police are seeking information about Courtney and his most recent whereabouts.

WCLO contributed to this report.

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