Nearly a week since he was stabbed in an early morning fight and airlifted to Hendricks Medical Center in Abilene, 21-year-old Seaver Ray Roper is recovering and expected to live.

Roper was stabbed 11 times when a confrontation turned physical between Roper and the 17-year-old suspect, Manuel Mantos.  Investigation showed that the incident occurred after Roper arrived at the residence around 6:00am on May 18th and confronted his 19-year-old former girlfriend and her current boyfriend Mantos.  Officers arrived at the scene to find Roper laying in the yard with multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and upper body, according to BPD Assistant Chief James Fuller.  He was listed as critical but stable condition at the time.

Mantos fled the scene before police arrived; however was arrested without incident the afternoon of May 18, 2011 on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the stabbing of Roper that same morning.

Roper was placed into a drug induced coma for recovery purposes immediately following the incident.  Monday, Roper was brought out of the coma.  As of Tuesday afternoon, Roper was reported to have the breathing tube removed and is said to be talkative, according to BPD officials.  He is in and out of consciousness but has been able to have select visitors according to police.

According to the Brown County District Attorney’s office, Mantos’ case is not yet slated to come before the grand jury; however if the investigation is able to be completed in a timely manner this case could still be considered as early as the June 16, 2011 session of the grand jury.