Benjamin Waddle 2018

A Madison man has been convicted of murder in the 2015 fatal stabbing of 35-year-old Michael Antonio Peoples, Limestone County District Attorney Brian Jones said Friday.

Benjamin Cordell Waddle, 29, was convicted after a three-day trial this week in Limestone County Circuit Court in Athens. Circuit Judge Robert Baker will sentence Waddle at a later date.

According to investigators, Waddle and Peoples had been smoking marijuana at a friend’s house in the 11000 block of Stewart Road in the Tanner community on Aug. 3 when they began arguing over who had the most money.

“Both subjects agreed to go outside to fight,” said Limestone County Sheriff’s Deputy Stephen Young at the time of the incident. “On the way out the door, Waddle allegedly stabbed Peoples in the back.”

First responders arrived to find Waddle tending to the victim’s wound. Peoples was transported to Athens-Limestone Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Jury selection in the trial began 9 a.m. Wednesday. By Friday afternoon, after three days of testimony, jurors reached a verdict in the case.

Waddle faces a sentence of 10 to 99 years or life in state prison.