An Indiana man is accused of killing his elderly mother and stepfather in a disturbing attack outside their Indianapolis home, with horrified neighbors reportedly witnessing the violence and attempting to intervene.
David White, 38, was arrested Sunday, October 11, after police responded to reports of a stabbing at a home on Lakeshire Lane on the city’s northwest side.
Authorities discovered his 75-year-old mother and 80-year-old stepfather suffering from serious injuries. His stepfather was identified by the Marion County Coroner’s Office as Robert Jay Pottle Jr.
According to preliminary court documents obtained by local television station WXIN, White allegedly attacked his mother with garden shears before turning his attention to his stepfather.
Witnesses told investigators they saw White repeatedly striking the older man’s neck with a shovel in an apparent attempt to decapitate him.
One neighbor reportedly intervened and managed to wrestle the shovel away from White. However, investigators allege that White continued attacking his stepfather with a kitchen knife.
The horrifying incident unfolded shortly after noon in what authorities described as a typically quiet residential neighborhood.
When Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived around 12:22 p.m., they discovered White’s mother with fatal injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pottle was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
Investigators recovered bloodied gardening equipment from the property as they worked to piece together the sequence of events.
Following the alleged attacks, White reportedly ran back inside the house, removed his clothing until he was wearing only underwear and waited for officers to arrive.
He surrendered without further incident and was taken into custody.
According to preliminary court records, White appeared to understand what had happened but refused to answer investigators’ questions, claiming that his parents had been holding him against his will.
Authorities have not substantiated that allegation or established a motive for the killings.
Police also confirmed that their Mobile Crisis Assistance Team had previously responded to the home regarding concerns about White’s mental health.
The specialized unit works alongside healthcare professionals to assist officers responding to individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
However, investigators have not established whether any mental health condition contributed to Sunday’s violence.
Indianapolis police spokesperson Tommy Thompson described the incident as deeply troubling for the neighborhood, where residents were left stunned by the deaths.
City-County Councilor Leroy Robinson offered condolences to the victims’ loved ones and called for greater attention to the challenges families face when seeking mental health assistance for relatives.
White was booked into the Marion County Jail on preliminary suspicion of two counts of murder.
As of Tuesday, October 13, prosecutors had not yet filed formal charges, and White had not entered a plea.
His initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday, October 14, when additional details about the allegations were expected to become public.
Investigators continue reviewing witness statements and evidence recovered from the home to determine what led to the deadly confrontation.
