A Freeland man told police he stabbed his parents after he became upset with them “and things got out of control,” according to papers filed in Island County Superior Court.
Sean P. Demerchant, 38, was arrested by Island County deputies late Sunday night after dispatchers received a 911 call from his mother, Norma Demerchant, who said her son had a knife and was trying to break into her Bush Point Terrace-area home.
Her call became more frantic after Sean Demerchant entered the home and stabbed the couple, and Norma Demerchant told a dispatcher they were bleeding and needed help, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Demerchant, 66, and her husband, Paul W. Demerchant, 73, were both taken to area hospitals after the attack.
Paul Demerchant, the father of the assailant, was taken to Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville, and was released late Monday morning. His wife was taken by a medical airlift to Harborview Medical Center, where she remains in serious condition.
Sean Demerchant is facing two possible counts of first-degree domestic violence assault and will make a preliminary appearance in Island County Superior Court this afternoon.
Authorities say Demerchant is a threat to his family and the community and have asked that he be held on a $500,000 cash-only bail. He is currently being held in the county jail in Coupeville.
His arraignment on assault charges will be held at a later date.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, county deputies arrived at the Demerchant home just after 10:30 p.m. Oct. 9 and an officer could hear someone yelling “Help us!” as he walked across the deck of the home.
Two deputies entered the home and found Norma and Paul Demerchant in their bedroom, in bed but both with knife wounds across their lower backs. Norma Demerchant also had a deep laceration on her neck.
Police said Sean Demerchant was partly on the bed and it looked like he was trying to tend to the couple’s wounds.
He allegedly told deputies that he had attacked his mother and father, and said he had put the knife used in the assault back in the kitchen.
