Amtrak Stabbing Suspect Said A Man Turned Into A ‘Demon’ On The Train And He Had To Fight
Michael Williams, 44, from Saginaw, Michigan was officially charged Monday afternoon with four counts of assault with intent to murder after a knife attack on a conductor and three passengers on an Amtrak train. More details in the stabbings have emerged.
[su_center_ad]When Williams was interviewed in jail, he told investigators he remembered being on the train and while talking with a man, he believed that guy turned into a demon, and he had to fight him, according to WSBT.
Williams went on to stab the train’s conductor, 40-year-old Dontrel Bankhead, at least 6 times in the head, face and body.
The other victims include, 59-year-old Bonnie Cleasbywas who was stabbed in the abdomen; 56-year-old Dan Stewart was stabbed once in the chest, and 47-year-old Gail Vanhorst was also stabbed once in the chest.
After an officer got on the train, he subdued Williams by tasing then handcuffing him after he ran toward him with a large hunting knife with a five inch blade, according to court documents.
Williams sometimes thought he saw people following him and, at one point, he sought treatment from a Veterans Affairs hospital, his grandmother, Ethel Williams said in a telephone interview with the South Bend Tribune.
“I know he was scared,” Williams’ grandmother said. “I know he went to veterans hospital here and got some medicine. I don’t know if he was still taking it.”
“He said people…somebody was following him, everywhere he get somewhere they say he sees people then he be scared,” she told WSBT 22.
Williams will undergo a mental health evaluation and he’s been under suicide watch in jail since his arrest.
Before going back to his cell, Williams asked the judge if he could be released on his own recognizance instead of the $1 million bond.
“Uh, no sir. These are very serious charges involving multiple victims. You are not a resident of Berrien County and I’m concerned and want to make sure you come back,” the judge answered.
All of the victims are expected to recover from their injuries.
Watch courtesy of WNDU:
H/T: My Internet friend @MiAtheistGal with thanks.[su_csky_ad]
tracey marie December 9th, 2014 at 9:21 am
PTSD, see what we do to our citizens so polititians can wear cod pieces and say “bring it on”
R.J. Carter December 9th, 2014 at 9:33 am
Was this just a few minutes after SUPERNATURAL went off?
MIAtheistGal December 9th, 2014 at 9:35 am
We need to make sure vets get the mental help they need when they return from the horrific wars and places we send them into.
Hirightnow December 9th, 2014 at 9:37 am
^^ This. ^^
craig7120 December 9th, 2014 at 9:50 am
Has a priest verified if the conductor did in fact turn into a demon? For the believers of supernatural gods/god, angels/demons, don’t ya have to give this man the benefit of the doubt? Why don’t the faithful/believers take stories like this serious? I know why I don’t, but shouldn’t the clergy be all over this possible confirmation of their belief system?
Carla Akins December 9th, 2014 at 10:12 am
I don’t know how we can continue to ignore/delay mental health issues in this country, both the organic and those imposed by war and trauma. We owe all of our citizens, especially those that served much much more.
tiredoftea December 9th, 2014 at 1:02 pm
Congratulations to the officer who restrained the man, instead of killing him.
Bunya December 9th, 2014 at 2:47 pm
People from as far back as the Viet Nam war are still suffering from PTSD.
Ain’t war grand?
manderso January 3rd, 2015 at 11:13 pm
This is really Grimm.