This story was updated with new information from 5 p.m. July 14.
GIBSONBURG – A juvenile is charged with second-degree felonious assault for a possible July 13 knife attack in Gibsonburg that left the juvenile’s parents hospitalized.
“We do not believe that a gun was used. We have reports that it was a knife,” Sandusky County Assistant Prosecutor and Senior Staff Attorney Laura Alkire said.
It is unknown how many charges will be filed against the youth, but multiple charges are possible. Three people were injured, two adults and the charged juvenile, at 4:43 a.m. at a 405 E. Yeasting St. home. Another juvenile who was present was not injured.
“It’s too early to say for certain, but, at this point, we believe that we have two victims and we would be representing both victims,” Alkire said. “There is only one charge filed, and that is with the mother as the named victim, but we believe we have two victims.”
“We have to wait to have our arms around the mother’s status. I don’t think she has turned the corner in which we know whether she’s going to make it or not,” Sandusky County Prosecutor Beth Tischler said. “The last update we had was that she was still critical. Until we know what the extent of her injuries are, that’s a little bit difficult to move that ball forward.”
Both parents were taken to Toledo-area hospitals, Gibsonburg Police Chief Don Karr said.
He said that multiple units from the Sandusky County EMS Life Squad and the Gibsonburg Fire Department assisted with injuries, and the mother was transported by Life Flight.
The Sandusky County Juvenile Court held a detention hearing for the juvenile during the afternoon of July 14 in Judge Brad Smith’s court.
“At the hearing this afternoon, the juvenile was held in detention. The court entered a denial and appointed an attorney for the juvenile,” Tischler wrote in an update from the courtroom.
The prosecutor also notified the court, during the hearing, that more charges are intended once the statements and interviews are completed. Alkire described the detention hearing as being the juvenile version of an adult’s bond hearing.
“In generic terms, based on the age of the individual, the process for having a juvenile treated as an adult is something we will explore, and it is a process,” Tischler said.
Tischler and Karr confirmed that Marsy’s Law, which aims to give crime victims equal rights to the accused, is expected to be a factor in the case.
“We will have victims that are currently receiving medical treatment and unable to participate,” Tischler said. “So that will be a difficult situation, too.”
“We have Mom and we have Dad. We have two victims that are currently receiving medical care. Law enforcement has not been able to speak with them yet because of their medical status,” Alkire said. “We still need to get the interviews done with the victims. We have enough, we’ve felt, to get one charge, and that’s felonious assault, which is a felony of the second degree, and that will be filed in juvenile court.
“There is a lot of investigation that still has to take place.”
Contact Roger LaPointe at 419-332-2674.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Gibsonburg youth charged in possible knife attack on parents
Reporting by Roger LaPointe, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
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By Roger LaPointe, Fremont News-Messenger | USA TODAY Network
