A 25-year-old man has had his criminal case dismissed at a hearing this morning in connection with a knife attack at a Butler apartment earlier this year.

John Patrick Conley III, who has no known address, was accused of stabbing Jessie Markovitz, 34, of Butler on April 2 at a home in the 200 block of North Elm Street.

He was treated at Butler Memorial Hospital for a stab wound to his upper back and later released.

Conley the following day turned himself in to police, who charged him with stabbing Markovitz with a kitchen knife during an argument at the North Elm Street apartment.

But when Markovitz failed to appear this morning at Conley’s preliminary hearing, District Judge Pete Shaffer dismissed the case.

A Butler County assistant district attorney advised police that once they find Markovitz, they may refile an attempted homicide charge against Conley.