ACTON, Mass. — A 25-year-old Massachusetts man has been arrested and accused of stabbing his mother, father and girlfriend in their home late Thursday.
Authorities said Benjamin DiCristina stabbed all three with a pair of scissors, leaving his 57-year-old father with life-threatening injuries. Prosecutors later said in court the father was not expected to survive.
The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said DiCristina attacked his 28-year-old girlfriend, strangling and stabbing her in the chest. During another altercation, DiCristina allegedly cut his mother, before attacking his father, allegedly stabbing him multiple times in the head and neck.
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His mother was treated and released from the hospital, while his girlfriend remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
The Middlesex District Attorney's Office said police initially responded to a call for a reported stabbing around 10:30 p.m. at a home on Haynes Court.
DiCristina reportedly was found by police in the shower and was taken into custody. According to court documents, after DiCristina was asked if he understood his rights, he replied, "Yes, I'm a murderer."
The DA said DiCristina's family had sought mental health treatment for him earlier in the day, prior to the attack, but he was assessed and released.
The woman who was stabbed was known to DiCristina, the DA's office said, but they did not initially elaborate on their relationship. Prosecutors later called the woman DiCristina's girlfriend in court.
State police said a forensic chemist was also involved in the investigation, but it's not yet clear why.
DiCristina appeared in court Friday on charges of two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, domestic assault and battery, and strangulation. A motion for a dangerousness hearing was filed.
DiCristina was ordered held without bail. He will undergo a mental health evaluation and is due in court on Oct. 25.