Father indicted with capital murder for death of his 16-month-old son

Blair Ness (pictured), 27, has been indicted with capital murder for allegedly stabbing his 16-month-old son to death in August

A father who was accused of stabbing his 16-month-old son to death outside their Texas apartment complex has been indicted.

Blair Ness, 27, was indicted on a capital murder charge Thursday in the August 19 death of his toddler son, Ashton, the Denton County District Attorney’s Office said.

If convicted, he could serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Lewisville police Capt Mike Lane previously said Ness had significant injuries to his hand from the knife, along with the shooting wound at the time of the horrific attack.

Police also said witnesses reported that Ness yelled ‘Jesus is coming’ before hand.

Authorities said the father was shot in the leg by a neighbor who tried to stop the stabbing. 

According to a police affidavit, the attack is believed to have begun inside Ness’ apartment, which was filled with a smoky haze and smelled of newly burnt marijuana.

Police found a large blood stain on the master bedroom carpet, with a blood-stained folding knife and skull fragments lying by the bedroom door.

Officers found a trail of blood leading outside to where neighbors witnessed the attack, and several kitchen knives were found in the grass next to a pool of blood, the affidavit stated. 

 

Ashton Ness, aged 16 months, was stabbed to death in the horrific attack

Ashton Ness, aged 16 months, was stabbed to death in the horrific attack

Ness' girlfriend and the child's mother, Alexandra Murphy (left), arrived shortly after police. She said that when she left for work earlier in the day, Ness (right) was feeding their son (center)

Ness’ girlfriend and the child’s mother, Alexandra Murphy (left), arrived shortly after police. She said that when she left for work earlier in the day, Ness (right) was feeding their son (center)

Ness was found on a patio and was subdued with a shock gun when he refused police commands.

As he was being handcuffed, Ness said: ‘I know everyone’s mad. I’m mad. I killed my son,’ according to the affidavit.

Ness’ girlfriend and the child’s mother, Alexandra Murphy, arrived shortly after police. She said that when she left for work earlier that day, Ness was feeding their son.

She said she could think of no reason why Ness would want to hurt their son, according to the affidavit. 

Ness had been reading the Bible extensively recently, she said, and they had been attending church services.  

A social media account belonging to Ness reveals that just five days before the horrific stabbing, the father-of-one posted a status update gushing about his family and his Christian faith, which was accompanied by a photo of his girlfriend and their son, Ashton. 

‘The start of something beautiful! I love my family, man do we have a strong bond. let’s all stand strong in jesus christ cause it’s so much better than magic. love you guys so much,’ he wrote.  

Ness was found on a patio and was subdued with a shock gun when he refused police (pictured) commands

Ness was found on a patio and was subdued with a shock gun when he refused police (pictured) commands

Lewisville Police Capt Jesse Hunter said that based on witness accounts, the father carried Ashton out of an apartment at the Oak Forrest Apartments in the 1500 block of Texas 121 Business in Lewisville shortly before 1pm.

Neighbors James Ellis and Jolyn Zapatos told CBS DFW that the man slammed his son to the concrete, then knelt beside him, took out a small knife and proceeded to stab him in the abdomen.

A neighbor watching from a second-floor balcony, identified as Austin Andrew, shot the suspect in the leg, ending the attack. Police say Andrew will not face any charges.

Both father and son were taken to a hospital, where Ashton died of his injuries.  

Footage filmed by another neighbor showed several police dragging Ness away from the scene.

He was screaming, ‘I just want to see my mom.’ 

He underwent surgery on Monday and was being treated for the gunshot wound to his leg and for injuries to his hand.

‘I’ve been in law enforcement for over 20 years, and this is probably the worst call I’ve ever been on in my career,’ Police Capt Hunter said. ‘We’re still all pretty confused on how something like this could happen.’ 

Final post: Just five days before the horrific stabbing, the father-of-one posted this status update gushing about his family and his faith

Final post: Just five days before the horrific stabbing, the father-of-one posted this status update gushing about his family and his faith

Alex Murphy shared this touching image of her slain son, writing in the caption: 'I’ll always love you little man'

Alex Murphy shared this touching image of her slain son, writing in the caption: ‘I’ll always love you little man’

Ashton and Blair Ness

Ashton and his mother, Alex Murphy

On Monday, a family member launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Ashton’s mother (right) with her sons final expenses. Ashton is seen (left) with his father 

There's no clear motive behind the slaying. Authorities said Tuesday that detectives were interviewing Ness (pictured with his girlfriend). His bond was set at $1.5million 

There’s no clear motive behind the slaying. Authorities said Tuesday that detectives were interviewing Ness (pictured with his girlfriend). His bond was set at $1.5million 

Ashton’s mother, Alex Murphy, was working a shift as a bartender at a sports bar at the time of the attack. 

She later shared a touching photo of herself kissing baby Ashton on the cheek, writing in the caption: ‘I’ll always love you little man.’ 

On Monday, a family member launched a GoFundMe campaign to help Ashton’s mother with her sons final expenses.

‘Ashton lit up a room when he entered it,’ the description read. ‘He had a great smile and the cutest dimples you ever saw. We had the pleasure of watching him last weekend and will never forget all that he learned and taught us.’

The page included a photo of a blonde, blue-eyed toddler seated in a chair on a deck with a slight smile on his face.   

There’s no clear motive behind the slaying. Authorities said Tuesday that detectives were interviewing the suspect. His bond was set at $1.5million. 

Police say the father stabbed his 16-month-old son to death in the courtyard of an apartment complex 

Police say the father stabbed his 16-month-old son to death in the courtyard of an apartment complex 

Witnesses told police that the man carried the child out of an apartment and yelled 'Jesus is coming' before putting the boy on the ground and stabbing him

Witnesses told police that the man carried the child out of an apartment and yelled ‘Jesus is coming’ before putting the boy on the ground and stabbing him

A neighbor in the apartment complex (above) who heard the screams grabbed his gun and shot the father in the leg to stop the attack

A neighbor in the apartment complex (above) who heard the screams grabbed his gun and shot the father in the leg to stop the attack

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk