Merrillville Man Charged With Murder After Police Say He Stabbed Parents Inside Home
Jason Troy Whitaker, 44, of Merrillville, has been charged with murder and several additional felony charges after police say he stabbed his parents inside a Merrillville residence.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Merrillville Police were dispatched on March 15, 2026 to a home in the 7400 block of Hendricks Street after a 911 caller reported that her son was stabbing her and her husband.
When officers arrived, they knocked on the door and a male identified as Whitaker opened it. Police reported Whitaker had a knife in his hand and was covered in a red blood-like substance on his clothing. Officers reported Whitaker dropped the knife and was taken into custody.
Inside the residence, officers located a female suffering from extensive injuries and a male in the basement who appeared lifeless, not breathing, and covered in a red blood-like substance.
Police reported the injured woman had large lacerations on her body including injuries to her head and hand. She told officers Whitaker had been staying at the home and began attacking her before the male victim intervened.
According to the affidavit, the woman told police Whitaker initially attacked her on the basement stairs and struck her in the head before stabbing her. She said the male victim came downstairs after she yelled for help and Whitaker then began stabbing him.
The woman told investigators she ran up the stairs and looked down and saw Whitaker pulling the male victim by his feet. She stated Whitaker followed her up the basement stairs and shoved her back down the stairwell.
Police reported the woman told investigators the incident began after an argument about Whitaker shutting the furnace off in the home. She said she went downstairs to turn it back on and confronted Whitaker, at which point he began stabbing her.
Medics later advised investigators the woman also reported Whitaker struck her with a cast-iron skillet before attacking her with a knife.
The woman was transported to a hospital in Illinois for treatment of multiple stab wounds. Hospital staff advised investigators she suffered deep lacerations to her face, back, and chest.
Investigators later learned she also suffered a skull fracture from a large laceration to her head and required surgery where a metal plate was placed in her skull.
During an interview with police, Whitaker stated he believed his parents were confining him in the basement. According to the affidavit, Whitaker accused his parents of smoking crack, using cocaine, and being involved in sex trafficking.
Whitaker told investigators he went upstairs and grabbed a kitchen knife. He later admitted stabbing both victims and stated he stabbed the male victim in the neck and abdomen two to four times. Whitaker repeatedly claimed he was being confined and said he “performed self-defense” against his father.
Police executed a search warrant at the residence and reported the basement was covered in a large amount of red blood-like substance. Investigators also located two knives covered in blood and several notebooks containing what detectives described as incoherent ramblings.
According to the affidavit, investigators found no evidence that the basement windows were sealed shut and no apparent signs of narcotics use, human trafficking, or other weapons used in the altercation.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified the male victim as 74-year-old Orell Whitaker of Merrillville following a death investigation. A forensic autopsy conducted Monday at the Lake County Forensic Center in Crown Point determined Whitaker died from incising wounds, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to the coroner’s office.
Charges filed March 16,2026:
• Murder
• Attempted Murder — Level 1 Felony
• Aggravated Battery — Level 3 Felony
• Domestic Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon — Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
• Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury — Level 5 Felony (2 counts)
