Pittsburgh doctor was murdered while he slept: suspect had been arrested previously

A man accused of stabbing to death a doctor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was out on bail after having been arrested months earlier for an alleged robbery, among other prior offenses.

The suspect is Elijah Hemingway, 32, who now faces charges including murder, aggravated assault, robbery and burglary, according to police. Police told Fox News Digital that as of Thursday, there were no updates regarding the charges.

The victim was Dr. Idris Evans, 46, who was stabbed while he slept. His wife was also attacked but survived after receiving medical treatment.

According to Fox News, Hemingway was out on his own despite having a criminal record in the county court dating back to 2016. His most recent arrest was in July, in connection with a robbery that occurred in February, for which he was released without bail.

The Murder of Dr. Idris Evans

According to CBS Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Police Department received a call around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday regarding a stabbing at a residence in southeast Pittsburgh.

According to investigators, Hemingway allegedly entered the home through an open window, climbed to the third floor and attacked both Dr. Evans and his wife with a knife. Both sustained multiple stab wounds and were transported to medical facilities.

While Evans died from his injuries, his wife survived. As she told investigators, the couple woke up when the attacker began stabbing them with a kitchen knife. According to court documents cited by the aforementioned media outlet, the man was wearing only underwear and made comments about "being God" during the attack.

In the midst of the attack, the woman told her two children, ages 8 and 12, to leave the house and seek refuge at a neighbor's home. The children managed to escape while their parents remained inside the house.

Hemingway was located shortly afterward behind a nearby house by a local law enforcement K-9 unit. He had cuts on one of his hands and initially claimed that Dr. Evans had first stabbed him in the back, even though he had no injuries to support that claim. He was hospitalized and later taken into custody.

As for the alleged assailant's relationship with Evans, his wife told investigators that, during the attack, her husband called the assailant "Elijah." However, authorities have not yet determined whether the two men had any prior connection, and Hemingway's motives remain unknown.

Victor Joseph, deputy chief of the Allegheny County Police Department, described the scene as "very violent," as there was broken furniture and mirrors inside the bedroom.