Police: Girl Wrestled Knife From Dad After He Stabbed Her Mother

A Windgap woman is dead and her two children are in the hospital after, police said, a man fatally stabbed his wife and choked his son and daughter before turning the knife on himself Sunday afternoon.

Police said a 7-year-old boy called 911 from his home along Haven Street in the Windgap neighborhood in Pittsburgh's West End.

The boy reportedly told police that his father, Anthony Knox, had attacked him and his 13-year-old sister before killing his mother shortly before 1 p.m.

The medical examiner said the mother, identified as Mara Knox, 41, died of her wounds after being taken to Allegheny General Hospital.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by Channel 11 News, the 13-year-old saw her dad stabbing her mom, so she took off running.

Knox followed his daughter, the complaint said, and hit her in the head with a hammer. Knox then allegedly threw her on the floor and choked her, then struck her unconscious with the hammer. When she woke up, police said, she ran to find her father on the first floor and after a fight was able to take the knife from him.

According to the complaint, the daughter then ran to several neighbors for help before one person finally answered the door.

A neighbor, who didn’t want to go on camera, told Channel 11 News that the girl ran to his home topless and bloody, crying for help.

"What startled me was the fact she was topless," the neighbor said. "Then, as she got closer, I seen she was bloody. All she said was her dad attacked her and her little brother. I tried to keep her calm. I called 911."

Anthony Knox was reported to be in critical condition on Sunday afternoon.

The children were taken to Children's Hospital for treatment and were reported to be in serious but stable condition.

Neighbors told Channel 11 the family never showed signs that anything was wrong.

"He was always good with the kids. He did things together with them. They were nice people. I'm very sad over this," said Bev Osbourne.

"It has been quiet over there. No one screams or yells. Even the kids were quiet," said Darlene Janick.

Police charged Anthony Knox with homicide and two counts of attempted homicide.

• E-Mail Newsletter: Get The Latest News Sent To Your E-Mail! • Mobile: Get WPXI Headlines On Your Phone, iPhone, More • RSS: Add Us To Your Page!