Prosecutors charged a homeless man Monday with murder in connection with the stabbing of a former Marine.

A Casper man and a teenager, meanwhile, face charges of aiding and abetting murder in the death of Johnny Shane Moody, a father of four who was found Friday night on the 700 block of East A Street with apparent stab wounds to the heart and back.

Witnesses told police several men assaulted Moody near the area where he was found, according to an affidavit signed by Casper police detective Stacia Francisco. One witness said a man, later identified as Jeffery Lee Carter, made a motion toward Moody, who then grabbed at his chest and appeared to be bleeding.

Carter, who is accused of second-degree murder, was found hiding in some bushes shortly after the stabbing. Police say they found two lighters and a folding knife in the area.

The 16-year-old boy, Juan Carlos Diaz, told a detective Carter stabbed Moody, according to the affidavit. Diaz and another man, 21-year-old Jonathan Jermain Jelsma, told police they participated in Moody's assault.

Both men are charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.

Jelsma told police the assault took place after Moody was involved in a physical confrontation with a woman, where each person punched the other. Francisco's affidavit did not offer further details about the confrontation.

Several people fled when a police lieutenant arrived in the area just after 10 p.m. on Friday. The lieutenant followed Moody down an alley and found him partially under a vehicle. Moody was taken to Wyoming Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

In an interview with investigators, Carter denied knowing anything about the incident, according to the affidavit. Police say he had blood on his shirt and shorts, and what appeared to be blood on his hands.

On Monday afternoon, Carter, Jelsma and Diaz made their first appearance in Natrona County Circuit Court. If convicted, all three would face 20 years to life behind bars.

Diaz appeared confused when Judge Michael Huber asked whether he understood the charges against him.

"I didn't really hurt that guy," he told the judge.

When the judge began to read the detective's affidavit out loud, he was interrupted by Diaz.

"Do you know who stabbed the guy?" Diaz asked.

In contrast, Carter spoke only to answer procedural questions from the judge. He told the court he was homeless and had come to Casper from Atlanta.

Carter, appearing in court wearing shackles and a green jail uniform, asked for a court-appointed attorney. His bond was set at $500,000.

Prosecutors said Carter had felony convictions in other states.

Jelsma told the court he has been in Casper for seven to eight years. Prosecutors say he has several misdemeanor arrests and was on the verge of having his probation revoked.

When asked by Huber if he had anything to say about his bond, Jelsma said he would like to get out of jail and make his life better. The judge set his bond at $250,000.

Huber set Diaz's bond at $100,000.

Funeral arrangements for Moody are pending.

Reach crime reporter Joshua Wolfson at (307) 266-0582 or at josh.wolfson@trib.com.