Jason Whitaker opened the door for police officers holding the bloody knife he used to kill his father, court records allege.
His mother told police the incident started when she told Jason to stop repeatedly turning the furnace off in the basement. Her son started to attack and stab her. At one point, Jason hit her over the head with a cast-iron skillet on the basement stairs.
His father Orell Whitaker, 74, intervened. It cost him his life.
Jason, 44, of Merrillville, is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, two counts of domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon, and two counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury.
He is in custody, held without bail.
His mother suffered multiple stab wounds. She was transferred to an Illinois hospital. She underwent surgery where doctors put a metal plate in her head for a skull fracture.
Merrillville Police responded around 2 a.m. on March 15 to the 7400 block of Hendricks Street, Det. Eran Meyer wrote.
The woman called 911 in the middle of the attack, saying her son was stabbing her husband.
When Jason answered the door for cops, he was covered in blood, records state.
His mother had “extensive injuries” — cuts to her face, back and chest. His father was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was ruled a homicide.
After he hit her in the head, the woman ran upstairs to call for help. When she looked back, she saw her son dragging his father by the feet.
Jason came back upstairs and dragged her back toward the basement, she said.
The woman told police they kicked Jason out, then let him back to live with them after he ran up “hotel bills,” according to the affidavit.
A relative told police Jason suffered from schizophrenia.
Police later found a notebook with “incoherent ramblings,” according to court records.
During a police interview, Jason claimed his parents confined him in the basement, used crack and cocaine and were sex traffickers. His father walked around with a gun, he said.
Officers found no evidence of any of his claims.
He claimed his mother was “belligerent” to him and he “didn’t know what happened” until police came, records state. He later said it was self-defense against his father.
He admitted he stabbed Orell two to four times in the neck and abdomen.
Police found two knives covered in blood in the basement.
