Police charged a 32-year-old Pittsburgh man after the couple was attacked while sleeping inside their Edgewood home.
EDGEWOOD, Pa. — A pediatric critical care doctor was killed and his wife critically injured after a man allegedly entered their home outside Pittsburgh and attacked the couple while they slept early Thursday, authorities said.
Dr. Idris Evans, 46, died after the attack at his home in Edgewood, an Allegheny County borough just east of Pittsburgh. His wife was hospitalized in critical condition. Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Elijah Hemingway of Pittsburgh and charged him with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and criminal trespass. Investigators had not announced a motive and were still trying to determine whether Hemingway and Evans knew each other.
Allegheny County police said emergency dispatchers received a report of a stabbing in the 100 block of Linden Avenue at about 12:30 a.m. First responders found Evans and his wife suffering from multiple stab wounds. Both were transported to hospitals in critical condition, and Evans was later pronounced dead.
Investigators said Hemingway entered the house through an open window, went to an upper floor and attacked the couple as they slept. According to court paperwork described by local news organizations, Evans’ wife told investigators that she awoke to a man attacking her and her husband. She said the intruder made statements about being God during the attack. The statements are allegations contained in the investigation and have not been tested in court.
Evans’ wife also told investigators that her husband addressed the attacker as “Elijah,” according to reports citing the court paperwork. Police said they had not established whether the two men had a prior relationship. Allegheny County Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph said investigators were working to determine whether Evans knew Hemingway, while Evans’ wife told police she did not know the suspect.
The couple’s two children, ages 8 and 12, were inside the house during the attack, according to CBS Pittsburgh. Evans’ wife told investigators that she called for the children to leave and go to a neighbor’s home. The children escaped without being reported injured. The woman also managed to get away and seek help as police were called to the neighborhood.
Police began searching the surrounding area after arriving at the home. A K9 unit from the Monroeville Police Department later located a man behind a nearby residence. Authorities identified him as Hemingway and said he had cuts to his hand. He was detained and transported to a hospital for treatment before being charged in connection with the attack.
Evans was a pediatric critical care physician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an assistant professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He also served as a medical director of the hospital’s Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team. UPMC described Evans as a dedicated caregiver and valued member of its hospital and university communities and asked that his family’s privacy be respected.
Neighbors described the killing as a shock in the small Edgewood community. Jeannine Fisher, who lives nearby and knew the Evans family, remembered the doctor as friendly and helpful. She recalled that when she first met Evans, he helped her carry groceries to her home. Edgewood police also acknowledged the impact of the killing on residents and urged people to avoid spreading rumors, graphic material or speculation about the case.
Hemingway was already facing a separate burglary case in Pittsburgh before his arrest in Evans’ death, according to court records cited by CBS Pittsburgh. He had been released on nonmonetary bond in that case and was scheduled to return to court about a week after the Edgewood attack. The earlier allegations are separate from the charges filed in Evans’ death and do not establish guilt in either case.
Investigators continued Friday to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether Hemingway and Evans had any connection before the alleged break-in. Hemingway faces criminal homicide and other charges, which remain allegations unless proven in court. Evans’ wife was reported in critical condition following the attack.
Author note: Last updated September 25, 2026.