Officials charged a Coatsville, Pennsylvania, father with attempted homicide Feb. 12 after he allegedly stabbed his 3-month-old son and threw him into the snow for a “sacrifice.”
Michael Phillips, 44, also faces other charges such as aggravated assault in connection with the alleged attack, according to a Chester County District Attorney press release. Police answered a report of an alleged stabbing at a residence in Coatesville at around 11:36 a.m. The child’s mother told police that Phillips said he needed to sacrifice the baby before he approached bearing a knife. He allegedly tried to stab the child several times and struck him in the abdomen once.
Following the alleged attack, the child’s mother took him and her 9-year-old son and exited the home, according to the DA’s office. The 9-year-old fled to seek help but Phillips allegedly snatched the infant from his mother and launched him into the snow. The infant’s mother protected him from additional injury using herself until authorities showed up. (RELATED: Feds Charge Former NYPD Official, Alleged ‘Sugar Daddy’ In Massive Bribery Scheme)
Responders transported the child to a local trauma center, where he received surgery, NBC 10 reported. He was then taken to a children’s hospital where he remained in critical but stable condition as of Feb. 12.
Jim Gemmell, a neighbor of the family, said the 9-year-old approached him to seek help. “His older son, the 9-year-old, came to our front stoop,” Gemmell told the outlet. “We went downstairs and he was like, ‘He’s going to kill my baby. He’s going to kill my baby.’ And I told him, ‘Tell me where to go.’”
Gemmell alleged Phillips appeared to resist arrest when police responded.
“They might have pepper sprayed him,” Gemmell said. “He said, ‘I’m going to spray you if you don’t get under control’ and he was resisting arrest beyond belief.”
The child’s mother told police she suspected her husband was suffering a psychotic break and that he had a history of drug abuse, including heroin, methamphetamine and pills, NBC 10 reported, citing the criminal complaint.
Phillips allegedly had smears of blood on his clothes and told police his act “was all part of God’s plan” and “I did it God, I did it.”
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe reacted to the incident, according to the press release. “Yesterday Coatesville Police and local EMS heroically worked to give this infant a chance to survive. Our thoughts go to the family during this incredibly difficult time,” he said.
A judge arraigned Phillips and refused him bail. He was being held in Chester County Prison ahead of a preliminary hearing, according to FOX 29. Police said the 9-year-old boy is under his mother’s care. The infant’s long-term prognosis remains unknown the outlet reported.
The Daily Caller contacted de Barrena-Sarobe’s office, but they did not immediately comment on the alleged incident.