Edgewood, Pennsylvania — A Pennsylvania doctor was stabbed to death while sleeping and his wife was critically wounded after an alleged intruder broke into their home and attacked the couple overnight, according to Allegheny County police.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, and his wife were found suffering from multiple stab wounds inside their third-floor bedroom shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday. Investigators allege that 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway entered the home through a back window before launching the violent attack.
Evans was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced dead. His wife was also hospitalized in critical condition.
Intruder Allegedly Attacked Couple While They Slept
According to police, the couple had been sleeping when Hemingway allegedly entered their Edgewood home. Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph described the scene as extremely violent, with extensive damage inside the bedroom.
“It was a very violent scene. The bedroom furniture broken, mirrors broken. It was a very graphic scene,”
Court records reportedly indicate that Hemingway repeatedly referenced God and claimed to be God during the attack. Evans’ wife told investigators that she and her husband tried to fight back as best they could while she also yelled for their children to escape the home.
The couple’s 8-year-old and 12-year-old children were physically OK following the attack.
Wife Tried to Protect Her Children
As the assault unfolded, Evans’ wife was focused on getting her children out of danger while attempting to survive the attack herself.
She told police that the couple had tried “fighting back the best of their ability” while she urged their children to flee. Hemingway allegedly also demanded the woman’s car keys and took them during the incident.
One unusual detail emerged from the investigation: Evans reportedly called the alleged intruder by his first name, “Elijah,” during the attack.
According to Joseph, Evans’ wife did not know the armed man. Investigators are still trying to determine whether there was any prior connection between Hemingway and Evans.
“We do not know if there was any preexisting relationship, though the female victim did not know this male, we are trying to determine if the two males knew eachother, it at all,” Joseph said.
Suspect Found at Neighboring Home
After the attack, investigators began searching the surrounding area for Hemingway. A police K9 eventually tracked him to a neighboring home, where authorities found him with lacerations to his hands.
Hemingway was taken to a hospital for treatment before being arrested and facing multiple charges.
Authorities charged him with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass, according to officials. Investigators also found no evidence supporting Hemingway’s alleged claim that he had been invited into the home.
Suspect Was Already Facing Criminal Charges
Court records reviewed by The Post indicate that Hemingway had been out on nonmonetary bail following a July arrest connected to an earlier burglary and theft case.
The circumstances surrounding that previous case and his release are now part of the broader record as investigators work to establish what led to Thursday’s deadly attack.
The investigation into the motive and any possible relationship between Hemingway and Evans remains ongoing.
Dr. Idris Evans Remembered by Medical Community
Evans was a physician who held significant roles at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.
He served as co-Medical Director of the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Pediatric Transport Team and was an Assistant Professor of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
His death has left colleagues and the local medical community mourning the loss of a physician who cared for critically ill children.
UPMC said in a statement:
“The UPMC and University of Pittsburgh community is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Dr. Idris Evans, a pediatric critical care physician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh,”
The statement continued:
“Dr. Evans was a dedicated caregiver and valued member of our hospital and university communities. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and colleagues during this difficult time. We ask that their privacy be respected.”
The deadly attack has left Evans’ family facing an unimaginable loss while his wife continues to recover from critical injuries.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the break-in, the relationship between the suspect and the victims, and what may have led to the violent confrontation.
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