Elijah Hemingway, a 32-year-old man charged with the stabbing death of Dr. Idris Evans in Pennsylvania, previously made bizarre claims to police in Florida, stating he was King Tutankhamun while running through a parking lot. Bodycam footage obtained by WPXI shows Hemingway declaring, "I am King Tutankhamun" and asserting he meant no harm while interacting with officers. When asked if he had thoughts of harming himself or others, he responded, "No, I am a spirit. I am not a physical being," and claimed to be the reincarnation of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh.
Hemingway has a history of legal issues, with six of his 22 past criminal charges related to altercations with police and domestic violence. He was arrested in July on burglary and theft charges from a previous incident but was released on non-monetary bail shortly thereafter.
On Thursday, Hemingway allegedly broke into Dr. Evans' home and attacked him with a knife, resulting in Evans' death and severe injuries to his wife, Gina Evans. She reported that Hemingway appeared "psychotic" and was undressed, ranting about God when he entered their home shortly after 12:30 a.m. The couple attempted to defend themselves, and Gina Evans instructed their children, ages 8 and 12, to flee to a neighbor's house during the attack.
Hemingway claimed he was invited into the home, but authorities could not confirm this. Dr. Idris Evans was a pediatric critical care physician and co-Medical Director of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Pediatric Transport Team, as well as an Assistant Professor of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. UPMC expressed deep sadness over his tragic loss in a statement.