A late-night argument inside an Indiana home turned into a horrifying scene that left one man dead and his wife fighting for her life.
Police say a 44-year-old man is accused of killing his father and brutally attacking his mother after a dispute over something as small as the furnace temperature.
Officers were called to the home in Merrillville around 2 a.m. after a frantic 911 call from a woman who said she and her husband were being stabbed.
When police arrived, they found the suspect, Jason Whitaker, walking out of the house with his hands raised. He was taken into custody without a struggle.
Inside, the scene was devastating.
Authorities say 74-year-old Orell Whitaker was found dead, while his wife was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. She suffered multiple stab wounds and severe head trauma, including a fractured skull.
According to investigators, the violence began when the woman asked her son to stop turning off the furnace in the basement — something she had reportedly complained about before.
Police say Whitaker responded by attacking her, allegedly striking her in the head with a cast iron skillet before stabbing her multiple times.
As she tried to escape, her husband stepped in to protect her.
That’s when, according to authorities, Whitaker turned on his father — stabbing him repeatedly in a fatal attack.
The woman managed to get away and call for help, but not before witnessing part of the horrifying aftermath. She told police she saw her son dragging her husband across the basement floor.
Investigators say Whitaker was still holding a bloody knife when officers entered the home.
During questioning, he allegedly admitted to stabbing his father multiple times, but claimed it was self-defense. Police say there is no evidence to support that claim.
Family members told investigators Whitaker had previously been asked to leave the home, but was later allowed back.
He now faces a long list of serious charges, including murder and attempted murder, and is being held without bond.
I would bet the farm that drugs were involved. 44 years old, living in mom and dad’s basement, what a pathetic turd. He wouldn’t leave when asked. There are entirely too many stories just like this one, and, again, I’ll bet drugs. Somehow, America has got to get a handle on the horrible drug problem we have. Maybe this didn’t involve drugs, but there was definitely something seriously wrong. A real shame.
Parents need to stop allowing these losers to live in their basement because they are dysfunctional and can’t function on their own. These losers need to figure out how to survive on their own even if it means being homeless. I know that parents feel responsible that their kid is a loser but at some point its no longer on them to provide for a 44 year old loser who can’t even be grateful for being allowed to sponge off his parents.