A violent domestic incident in Merrillville has left one man dead and a woman critically injured, after authorities say a 44-year-old suspect attacked both of his parents inside their home in the early hours of Sunday.
Police responding to a distress call shortly after 2 a.m. were met at the door by Jason Whitaker, who was reportedly covered in blood and holding a knife believed to have been used in the attack, according to court filings.
Inside the residence, officers discovered the body of 74-year-old Orell Whitaker, who was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife, who survived the ordeal, sustained severe injuries, including multiple stab wounds and a fractured skull.
According to her account to investigators, the confrontation began over a dispute involving the home’s furnace. She told police she had asked her son to stop turning it off in the basement, which allegedly triggered a violent outburst. During the attack, she was stabbed several times and struck in the head with a cast-iron skillet.
Despite her injuries, she managed to make her way upstairs and call emergency services. “When she turned around, she saw her son dragging Orell Whitaker by the feet,” authorities noted in court documents.
The suspect allegedly returned upstairs moments later and attempted to drag his mother back toward the basement before police arrived.
The injured woman was transported to a hospital in Illinois, where she underwent emergency surgery that included the placement of a metal plate in her skull.
Investigators say the suspect offered conflicting explanations after his arrest. He claimed his parents had confined him to the basement, accused them of drug use, and alleged involvement in criminal activities. He also stated his father carried a firearm regularly. However, authorities reported no evidence supporting these claims and instead recovered a personal journal containing what was described as “incoherent ramblings.”
At another point, Whitaker described his mother as “belligerent” and said he “didn’t know what happened” until police intervened. He later claimed he acted in self-defence during the fatal encounter with his father.
Further searches of the home uncovered two additional bloodied knives in the basement, adding to the evidence collected at the scene.
Court records indicate the suspect had previously been removed from the home by his parents but was later allowed to return after accumulating significant hotel expenses.
Whitaker now faces multiple felony charges, including murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery, and domestic battery involving a deadly weapon. He remains in custody without bond as the case proceeds.
