Pittsburgh Doctor Fatally Stabbed in Home Attack; Wife Critically Injured
Police arrest suspect Elijah Hemingway on homicide charges after alleging he entered the couple's home and attacked them as they slept.
A pediatric critical care physician at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh was fatally stabbed early Thursday morning, and his wife was critically injured, after a man allegedly broke into their Edgewood, Pennsylvania, home and attacked them while they slept. Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway of Pittsburgh.
According to the Allegheny County Police Department, first responders were called to the couple's Linden Avenue home around 12:30 a.m. and found both Dr. Idris Evans, 46, and his wife suffering from multiple stab wounds. Dr. Evans was pronounced dead at an area hospital. His wife remained in critical but stable condition.
Investigators determined through witness interviews that Hemingway allegedly entered the home and attacked the couple with a kitchen knife. Dr. Evans' wife told investigators that she and her husband awoke to the assault. She reportedly stated that the attacker was wearing only underwear and uttered phrases about "being God." The children of the couple, aged 8 and 12, were in the home at the time of the attack but were able to escape to a neighbor's house unharmed.
Dr. Evans' wife also indicated to investigators that her husband may have known the attacker, saying "Elijah" during the assault. However, authorities stated that they are still working to determine if there was any pre-existing relationship between Evans and Hemingway. The victim's wife did not know the suspect, according to police.
A K-9 unit from the Monroeville Police Department, assisting in the search for the suspect, located Hemingway behind a nearby residence. He had sustained cuts to his hand and was hospitalized pending transfer to the Allegheny County Jail. Hemingway faces charges including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, and criminal trespass.
Dr. Evans was the medical director of the Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh released a joint statement expressing their sorrow over the loss of Dr. Evans, calling him a "dedicated caregiver and valued member of our hospital and university communities."
The motive for the attack remains under investigation. Police have not released further details regarding the circumstances of the alleged home invasion.