The man accused of fatally stabbing a Pittsburgh pediatrician and critically injuring his wife during a late-night home invasion is now also charged with sexually assaulting a separate woman in public just hours prior to the deadly attack.
Elijah Hemingway, 32, reportedly ambushed the victim on Wednesday morning as she traversed a path linked to an alley in Wilkinsburg, as detailed in a recent statement from the Allegheny County Police Department. Law enforcement officials allege Hemingway then took the woman's mobile phone during the encounter. Investigators noted that the victim and Hemingway were not previously acquainted.
Following the initial report, Wilkinsburg police alerted Allegheny County detectives, who proceeded to investigate the alleged sexual assault concurrently with the ongoing homicide inquiry. Detectives successfully located "multiple items connecting Hemingway to the reported sexual assault, along with the victim's cell phone that was reported stolen during the incident," according to statements from Allegheny County police. After conferring with the district attorney's office, county authorities announced additional charges against Hemingway, including rape, sexual assault, and robbery.
The incident in Wilkinsburg reportedly occurred in close proximity to Edgewood, Pennsylvania. It was in Edgewood, just hours later in the early hours of Thursday morning, that Hemingway is accused of entering a residence and stabbing a sleeping couple.
The Edgewood Home Invasion
The victim who died in the Edgewood attack was identified as Dr. Idris Evans, a 46-year-old pediatrician. He was pronounced deceased after emergency personnel transported him to a medical facility.
Police reports indicate that Hemingway assaulted the couple while dressed only in his underwear. Dr. Evans' wife informed investigators that the assailant seemed "psychotic" and declared himself to be "God" during the violent encounter. As the couple resisted, Dr. Evans' wife reportedly shouted for their two children, aged 8 and 12, to flee the residence.
The police report further states that Dr. Evans' wife informed detectives that her husband addressed the attacker by the name "Elijah," suggesting a prior acquaintance. Nevertheless, county authorities stated that they have been unable to verify any pre-existing relationship between Dr. Evans and Hemingway. Dr. Evans' wife maintained to police that she did not know the suspect and was uncertain about how he gained entry into their home.
Conflicting Accounts and Prior History
Investigators noted that during questioning, Hemingway provided a narrative of the night's events that conflicted with their established findings. Hemingway asserted that Dr. Evans had invited him to the residence several hours earlier and permitted his entry, as detailed in the police report. He further claimed Dr. Evans attacked him with a knife, stating he suffered a stab wound to his back. However, law enforcement officials reported finding no stab wound on Hemingway's back and were unable to locate a bicycle he alleged to have used to travel to the home.
In connection with the Thursday morning assault, authorities have filed seven charges against Hemingway, which include criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, and trespassing. Public court records indicate that Hemingway possesses a criminal record extending to 2016. Notably, he was released without bail in July following a burglary incident that occurred in February.
