Brother wounded trying to stop deadly attack in Lancaster County
LANCASTER, PA — A Lancaster County man is accused of stabbing his sister to death after an argument that police say began over barking dogs, then turning the knife on his brother before taking a shower and fleeing the home.
Bryan Emeric Adolph, 26, of East Hempfield Township, has been charged with criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the Monday morning attack.
According to charging documents, East Hempfield Township police responded shortly after 10:30 a.m. to a residence in the 1100 block of Persimmon Drive.
Officers found 28-year-old Elyse Adolph dead in a pool of blood inside the home.
A second victim, Adolph’s 24-year-old brother, told investigators Bryan Adolph stabbed both of them before he armed himself with a handgun in self-defense. Police said the brother suffered numerous puncture wounds to his arms and was bleeding heavily when officers arrived. He was taken to a local hospital, where he remains recovering.
According to investigators, Bryan Adolph told police he became angry because the victims’ dogs would not stop barking. He allegedly grabbed one of the dogs and punched it in the nose.
Police said Elyse Adolph confronted her brother after seeing him strike the dog. Bryan Adolph allegedly told investigators he then grabbed several small knives from a kitchen drawer and began attacking his sister, attempting to stab her in the neck.
According to the criminal complaint, Bryan Adolph told investigators he believed he stabbed his sister about 20 times.
During the attack, police said the victims’ brother attempted to intervene and struck Bryan Adolph in the head with a glass plate. Bryan Adolph then allegedly turned the knife on him, stabbing him multiple times.
Investigators said Bryan Adolph told police he went upstairs after the attack and took a brief shower to wash the blood from his body. As he came back downstairs, he was confronted by his brother, who was armed with a handgun, prompting him to flee the residence.
East Hempfield Township police arrested Bryan Adolph shortly after noon near Good Drive and Route 30. Officers reported he had blood on his legs and head and allegedly told them the injuries occurred during the attack.
At a preliminary arraignment Tuesday morning, Judge Brian Chudzik denied bail. Bryan Adolph remains held at Lancaster County Prison.
Additional charges may be added during a preliminary hearing scheduled for Aug. 4.
The case was investigated by East Hempfield Township Police Detective Allison Roush. Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp will prosecute the case.
Bryan Emeric Adolph is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Key Points
- A 26-year-old Lancaster County man is charged with fatally stabbing his sister and injuring his brother.
- Police said the attack began after an argument over barking dogs.
- Investigators said the suspect admitted stabbing his sister about 20 times before fleeing the home.
