Jason Whitaker allegedly attacked his mother with a cast iron skillet and a knife before stabbing his father to death when the older man tried to intervene at their Merrillville, Indiana home early Sunday morning.
Background
Lake County Sheriff's deputies responded to a 911 call at approximately 2 a.m. from a woman reporting that her son was stabbing her husband at their residence in the 1100 block of West 73rd Avenue, according to court documents. When officers arrived, Whitaker, 44, answered the door covered in blood and clutching the bloody knife he allegedly used to kill his father.
The victim, identified as Orell Whitaker, 74, was pronounced dead at the scene. His mother sustained extensive injuries including multiple stab wounds and a skull fracture caused by being struck with a cast iron skillet.
The woman's injuries required surgery to install a metal plate in her head. She was transported to an Illinois hospital for treatment.
According to the mother's statement to police, the attack began after she told her son to stop turning off the furnace in the basement. This apparently upset Whitaker, who then began stabbing her multiple times and struck her over the head with the cast-iron skillet.
After being hit in the head, the mother staggered upstairs to call 911. Upon turning around, she observed her son dragging her husband by the feet. Whitaker then returned upstairs and attempted to pull his mother back into the basement.
Court documents reveal that the parents had previously expelled their son from the home but allowed him to return after he ran up hotel bills.
The Investigation
Whitaker told detectives that his parents locked him in the basement, used crack cocaine and cocaine, and were involved in sex trafficking. He claimed his father frequently walked around the residence with a firearm.
Investigators found no evidence to substantiate any of these claims. They did, however, recover a journal belonging to the suspect filled with what the affidavit describes as incoherent ramblings.
In addition to the knife Whitaker was carrying when he answered the door, police located two additional bloody knives in the basement.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office and Indiana State Police continue to investigate the incident.
Key Takeaways
- Orell Whitaker, 74, was killed when he intervened during his son's attack on his wife
- The mother sustained a skull fracture from a cast iron skillet and multiple stab wounds
- Jason Whitaker told police his parents were sex traffickers, but investigators found no evidence supporting the claim
- A journal belonging to the suspect contained incoherent writings, according to court documents
- Three bloody knives were recovered at the scene
What's Next
Whitaker is being held in the Lake County Jail without bond. He faces one count of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, and two counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
The Lake County Prosecutor's Office has not yet announced a formal charging hearing date. Detectives continue to compile evidence for presentation to a grand jury.