A Hope man flown to an Indianapolis hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds has been discharged, and a teenager is facing criminal charges in juvenile court related to the stabbing.
Eric Douglas, 42, was stabbed in the back multiple times on the night of Tuesday, Sept. 3. After first responders arrived at a residence in the Goshen Meadows subdivision on Hope’s south side, a decision was made to call a medical helicopter to transport Douglas to IU Health Methodist Hospital.
On Friday, the office of Bartholomew County prosecutor Lindsey Holden-Kay announced they have made a charging decision regarding the 17-year-old male suspect.
“Any charges related to this matter will remain in juvenile court,” Holden-Kay stated.
The decision means authorities are not allowed to publicly identify the suspect nor “release any additional information at this time,” the prosecutor said. The matter will remain under the jurisdiction of Juvenile Magistrate Brittney Long.
Incident reports state the 10:26 p.m. stabbing took place in the 100 block of Schaefer Court South. The address refers to a residential neighborhood along a cul-de-sac south of Hitchcock Drive.
While the address description includes Douglas’ residence, investigators have not confirmed the stabbings took place within the victim’s home.
What has been confirmed is that the incident began as a minor domestic disturbance between Douglas and another individual, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dane Duke said. The juvenile suspect got involved in the scuffle when he stepped in and began stabbing Douglas, investigators stated.
The juvenile was taken into custody on an arresting charge of battery causing serious bodily injury. In adult court, the crime is classified as a Level 5 felony, which carries a penalty of between one to six years in prison in Indiana. A fine of up to $10,000 can also be assessed.
After questioning, the suspect was taken to the Bartholomew County Youth Services Center. He was still being held at the Illinois Avenue facility as of Friday.
