A 14-year-old Idaho boy is being held in lieu of $1 million bail, charged with the machete killing of his father and a brother with Down syndrome.
Eldon Samuel III was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His father, Eldon Jr., and brother, Jonathan, 13, were killed Monday night in the emergency housing unit where the family had been living in Coeur d'Alene.
Coeur d'Alene police said the father was shot and Jonathan shot and stabbed with a machete. Eldon III called police and met officers at the door covered in blood, police reports said.
The accused killer allegedly admitted the killings and said his father had been beating him. He allegedly said he planned the attack in advance.
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Anthony Samuel, an older half brother, said Eldon was always violent and frequently attacked Jonathan.
“Eldon, he was never sane,” Anthony said. “We all knew he was not exactly right, but we’d never think that this would happen.”
Anthony said he did not believe his brother's story that their father had beaten them. He said his father had a past history of drug use but "was starting to get his life back on track."
He described Jonathan as a happy boy who loved playing with Legos but was afraid of violence and loud noises. Police said Jonathan was hiding under a bed when his brother attacked him.
“He’d get scared if you talked too loud or did anything sudden,” Anthony said. “I can imagine that’s why he was hiding.”
[The Spokesman-Review]
