ACTON, MASS. (WHDH) - A 25-year-old man suspected of stabbing his parents and girlfriend with scissors at a home on a quiet street in Acton late Thursday night was arraigned on attempted murder charges Friday in Concord District Court, officials said.
Officers responding to a home on Haynes Court for a 911 call for reports of an unconscious male around 10:30 p.m. found three people suffering from stab wounds, according to a spokesperson for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
The suspect, identified as Benjamin DiCristina, was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery and strangulation.
Prosecutors say DiCristina stabbed his mother, father and girlfriend. Father is not expected to survive. DiCristina allegedly used scissors and stabbed his father several times in the neck #7News
— Nicole Oliverio (@NicoleOliverio) October 5, 2018
DiCristina’s 57-year-old father, his 56-year-old mother, and his 28-year-old girlfriend were taken to area hospitals. Their names have not been made public.
His father suffered life-threatening stab wounds to the neck, his girlfriend suffered serious chest injuries, and his mother suffered minor head injuries, police said.
Prosecutors say his father is not expected to survive, the girlfriend remains hospitalized with serious injuries, and the mother has been treated and released.
“His mother was woken up at approximately 10:30 p.m. when she heard her son screaming in his bedroom,” prosecutors said. “She went into his bedroom and he was observed to be on top of his girlfriend with his hands around her neck.”
DiCristina was found locked in a bathroom and hiding in the shower with the scissors in his hand, according to prosecutors.
State police detectives, crime scene personnel and a forensic chemist were called to the scene.
Defense lawyers have requested a competency hearing on DiCristina’s behalf. He is said to have a history of mental illness.
DiCristina returns to court Oct. 25 for a status hearing.
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