Son charged with stabbing father, stealing pickup truck in Robinson
An argument between an Illinois father and son ended Tuesday night with the father in a Pittsburgh hospital receiving treatment for stab wounds and the younger man arrested by state police on assault charges.
Eric Robert Fehrenbacher, 32, of Newton, a community in southeastern Illinois, is accused of stabbing his 64-year-old father, who was driving a pickup truck west on Routes 22/30 near Toll 576 (Southern Beltway) in Robinson Township about 11:40 p.m.
The two men apparently got into an argument over directions. Trooper Robert Broadwater, community information officer for Pennsylvania State Police Troop B, said it is not clear where the two were going.
The 32-year-old, who was in the passenger seat, allegedly stabbed his father twice in the right bicep.
Troopers from the Pittsburgh station were initially called to the area for a report of a domestic dispute. While on the way, the responding trooper heard from dispatchers, who said the victim told them his son fled in a red GMC pickup truck.
A trooper spotted the truck driving east near the Imperial exit and stopped it. A pair of brass knuckles could be seen inside the driver’s door. There also was blood on the driver’s seat, and Eric Fehrenbacher had blood on his right arm, police said.
Police went back to the site of the original incident and found the father standing along Route 22/30. He told police his son assaulted him before stabbing him. The father told police he pulled the truck to the side of the road and got out. His son allegedly chased after him before getting in the truck and driving off.
The father was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment. He was expected to be released Wednesday.
The younger Fehrenbacher was arraigned Wednesday morning before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of robbery of a motor vehicle, aggravated assault, having a prohibited offensive weapon, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. He was placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. He will have a March 1 preliminary hearing before District Judge Traci McDonald.