Director of children’s hospital stabbed to death by man who snuck into house through open window while family was sleeping
A leading doctor at a renowned children’s hospital was stabbed to death after an intruder slipped through an open window and crept upstairs before attacking the physician and his wife as they slept, police say.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, a pediatric critical care physician and medical director at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, died after the horrifying early-morning attack inside his family home in Edgewood, Pennsylvania, on Thursday.
His wife survived the stabbing and, despite suffering serious injuries, managed to alert the couple’s children, aged eight and 12. They were able to get out of the house as violence erupted in their parents’ bedroom.
Police have charged 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass over the attack.
Investigators say Hemingway entered the home through an open window before making his way to the third floor, where Evans and his wife were sleeping.
The couple awoke at around 12:30am to find a man attacking them with a kitchen knife, according to court documents cited by CBS News.
Evans’ wife told investigators that the alleged attacker was wearing only underwear and uttered something about ‘being God’ during the terrifying encounter.
She told authorities how she and her husband desperately fought back.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, was a pediatric critical care physician and medical director at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Elijah Hemingway, 32, is accused of entering the family home through an open window before making his way upstairs
‘It was a very violent scene,’ Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said. ‘The bedroom furniture was broken, mirrors broken. It was a very graphic scene.’
‘It was a very violent scene,’ Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said.
‘The bedroom furniture was broken, mirrors broken. It was a very graphic scene.’
At some point during the struggle, Evans’ wife screamed for the couple’s two children to flee the house and seek refuge with a neighbor.
She ultimately managed to escape herself and summon the police.
Officers arriving at the home found Evans and his wife suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Both were rushed to a hospital in critical condition, but doctors were unable to save Evans.
His wife told authorities she remembered her husband addressing the alleged attacker as ‘Elijah’ during the struggle, raising questions over whether the two men knew one another.
Police said that remains unclear.
Hemingway, 32, is accused of entering the family home through an open window before making his way upstairs
‘We do not know if there was any pre-existing relationship,’ Joseph said. ‘The woman did not know this male. We are trying to determine if the two males knew each other.’
Investigators said Hemingway was eventually discovered behind a nearby home with cuts to his hand.
Neighbor Sandra Trappen awoke to the sight of police swarming the normally quiet neighborhood before discovering that the man officers were hunting was hiding in her own backyard.
‘I was going to walk out in the backyard, and then all of the officers rushed through the backyard, so I just kind of stayed back,’ Trappen told WTAE.
She said officers spent around an hour searching the dark area.
‘Once they found him, he appeared to be bleeding and incapacitated,’ she said.
Trappen said Hemingway had managed to hide in a less manicured section of her garden.
‘He had found a way to conceal himself, but apparently he was injured and bleeding.’
Hemingway was detained and taken to a hospital for treatment.
Neighbor Sandra Trappen awoke to the sight of police swarming the normally quiet neighborhood before discovering the man officers were hunting was hiding in her backyard
Police said Hemingway later claimed during an interview that Evans had invited him to the house several hours earlier and alleged Evans and his wife attacked him.
Authorities said Hemingway was unable to provide details supporting his account.
Police have not announced a motive, and the circumstances surrounding any possible prior connection between Hemingway and Evans remain under investigation.
Dr. Evans had devoted his career to treating critically ill children.
He was 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.
His hospital and university colleagues said they were ‘deeply saddened’ by his death.
‘Dr. Evans was a dedicated caregiver and valued member of our hospital and university communities,’ UPMC said.
‘Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time. We ask that their privacy be respected.’
Edgewood police also acknowledged the devastating impact of the killing on the small community.
‘We are a small and close-knit community and we are sure that many of you may be feeling shaken today,’ the department said.
‘You may be sad, angry, anxious, distracted, or just having a hard time making sense of what happened.’
Police asked for residents to avoid spreading rumors, speculation or graphic material about the killing, warning that doing so could make an already traumatic situation even more painful for Evans’ family and neighbors.
