Battle Ground man ordered held without bail in stabbing that left 1 dead
A Battle Ground man is being held without bail in the Clark County Jail pending a mental health evaluation after he allegedly stabbed his adoptive parents, killing his father, at their home Friday.
Steven Williams, 39, appeared Monday in Clark County Superior Court on allegations of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, both domestic violence related.
Prosecutors requested Judge Robert Lewis order Williams be held without bail, stating that he poses a serious threat to the community.
Attorney Dylan Guess, of the county's office of public defense, requested the mental health evaluation for Williams, citing serious concerns.
Court records show that Williams was adopted by Brenda and Allen Williams at birth. He has been previously diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Brenda Williams, 65, told investigators following the attack that her son has the mentality of a 10-year-old.
Williams' next court hearing is Wednesday.
Battle Ground police officers and Clark County sheriff's deputies responded about 1:30 p.m. to a 911 call reporting a stabbing at a home in the 11700 block of Northeast 244th Street. Brenda Williams reported her adult son had stabbed her husband, Allen Williams, 65, at their home. During the phone call, she could be heard screaming, saying her son was coming after her, according to court records.
Two people driving by saw Steven Williams holding a knife and trying to stomp on his mother's head. The two intervened, and Steven Williams ran back inside the home. Court records state he stabbed his father additional times.
Responding law enforcement officers arrested Steven Williams as he exited the house.
Allen Williams died at the scene. First responders took Brenda Williams to a local hospital, where she remains in stable condition, according to the sheriff's office.
Steven Williams told investigators his mother became upset with him because he wasn't putting away groceries correctly after returning from the store. He allegedly said her criticism, along with physical and verbal abuse over the years, made him "snap," according to court records.
He said Allen Williams had assaulted him three times over the years, with the most recent incident being 11 years ago. He said Brenda Williams never physically assaulted him, court records state.
Steven Williams allegedly told investigators he grabbed a serrated knife from the knife block and concealed it. After putting away the groceries, his father had gone to the bathroom near the living room, and his mother went to work on a computer near the kitchen. When Allen Williams exited the bathroom, Steven Williams ambushed his father from behind. Steven Williams allegedly told investigators he stabbed his father in the back with the intent to stab his heart, according to court records.
Steven Williams allegedly said the knife did not go deep enough so he kept stabbing, but eventually the knife broke. He then went into the kitchen to get a second knife and continued to stab his father, court records state.
Steven Williams allegedly told investigators that he told Allen Williams "I love you" three times to "make his death more comfortable," court records state.
His mother left the home to call police, he said, and he followed. He allegedly told investigators he chased after and began stabbing her, and kicked her in the face, according to court records.
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