Pittsburgh-area man charged with stabbing his mom while she slept
HUNKER, Pa. (KDKA) -- A Westmoreland County man was arrested after police said he stabbed his mom while she was sleeping.
Kort Eckman, 45, was arrested and charged with felony counts of criminal attempted homicide and aggravated assault, misdemeanor counts of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and a summary count of harassment, according to a media release from police.
Just after 1 a.m. Tuesday, troopers responded to the disturbance at a residence along the 600 block of Armbrust-Hecla Road in Mount Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County.
Troopers learned that Eckman had stabbed his 78-year-old mother multiple times while she was sleeping. Eckman was subsequently taken into custody, while medical aid was given to Eckman's mother at the scene before EMS personnel arrived.
According to the criminal complaint, Eckman told police he stabbed his mother 10 to 20 times because he thought she was a Nazi war criminal and he was trying to kill her because he thought it was a test.
"I woke up around 3 o'clock. and I saw police cars everywhere, wondering what could have happened and I knew it couldn't be good," neighbor Wayne Brinker said. "There's never anything happening around here. I couldn't believe I saw all the lights flashing."
Eckman's mother was transported to Forbes Hospital and last reported in stable condition. Neighbors said the victim, Rose Eckman, is a retired school teacher.
Eckman was transported to the Westmoreland County Prison and awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 18.
