TX - Benjamin Elliott, 17, fatally stabbed Twin Sister while asleep, Katy, 28 Sept 2021

[realanastasia]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10046489/Texas-boy-17-told-police-SLEEPING-stabbed-twin-sister-death.html

“Benjamin Elliott, 17, from Katy, Texas, has been charged with murder for allegedly stabbing to death his twin sister, Meghan, which he claimed to have done in his sleep

A 17-year-old Texas boy has allegedly confessed to killing his twin sister but told authorities he was sleeping when he repeatedly plunged a knife into her neck.

Benjamin Elliott was booked into the Harris County Jail on Thursday on a count of murder for the brutal slaying of Meghan Elliott, which took place inside the family's home in Katy early Wednesday morning.

A prosecutor revealed that Benjamin has admitted to stabbing Meghan, but told deputies that he believed he was sleeping or dreaming at the time, and only realized what had happened when he pulled the knife from his twin's neck.”

 

[realanastasia]

Two interesting details from the article linked in my previous post, bolded by me:


“Deputies recovered a knife at the scene of the attack, but they had to obtain a search warrant to look for additional evidence inside the family's home because the twins' parents refused to let anyone in.

Pinkens said no motive has been revealed, according to KHOU11.

According to the authorities, there had been a previous call to service at the home on Brown Meadow Court stemming from an unspecified family disturbance.

 

[realanastasia]

“The Elliott family attorney issued this statement:

“We are still gathering all of the facts and details of this tragedy. There is no question Benjamin loved his sister very much. They were extremely close and the best of friends. The family is asking for privacy as they process this heartbreaking event.”

Twin detained after sibling killed: Brown Meadow Ct. crime scene | khou.com

 

[Gardenista]

This is crazy

 

[JDG]

There was a case of Homicidal Sleepwalking in Ontario where the murderer drove across the city to kill 2 people.

This does happen, not often, thankfully.

Let’s wait and see how this unfolds.

 

[tara83]

It's concerning the parents wouldn't let LE in the house.Were they trying to hide some evidence?

 

[realanastasia]

There was a case of Homicidal Sleepwalking in Ontario where the murderer drove across the city to kill 2 people.

This does happen, not often, thankfully.

Let’s wait and see how this unfolds.

The slaying-while-sleeping is pretty rare, I agree, but it seems to happen with increasing frequency that young women are killed by their young adult/teenage brothers. Layne Mays, Noelle Ness, Megan Betts, Sabrina Jackson, Marnee Kelley-Mills are all victims from the last couple of years. Sofia Trusova, 12, was just murdered by her 22 year old brother a little more than a week ago in upstate NY. I wonder if there really *is* an upward trend (if yes, I wonder about the effect of quarantines and home confinement on this particular type of crime) or if it’s just the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

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[realanastasia]

Twin tragedy: Brother on trial recalls 'realistic nightmare' of sister's fatal stabbing

Benjamin Elliott is accused of fatally stabbing his twin sister, Meghan. Both were 17 at the time and Benjamin claims he was sleepwalking or dreaming.

www.khou.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"Is this just some made-up bologna or a really creative defense?" Rucker said. "The answer is absolutely not."

"And this is not a rouse, this is not some defense to get Ben off a tragic, tragic set of circumstances," Rucker said.

Family history of sleepwalking comes up during Katy man's murder trial

The defense told the jury that then-17-year-old Benjamin Elliott suffered from parasomnia the morning his twin sister was fatally stabbed in 2021.

www.khou.com

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[imstilla.grandma]

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[Tricia]

This is a crazy case. It was in our Spotlight on Children forum so I moved it here.
What do you think? Do you think it is possible to sleepwalk and kill someone without knowing it?

 

[seasideForest]

The slaying-while-sleeping is pretty rare, I agree, but it seems to happen with increasing frequency that young women are killed by their young adult/teenage brothers.

That's interesting. That would mean that it's not happening with increasing frequency when, say, a young man decides to bump off another young man he has had a long-running dispute with? Or even when a young adult/teenage brother decides to bump off his younger brother?

If that is all the case, then why would having a sister increase the rate of parasomnia? Hmm.

Note: I haven't watched any of the Youtube links, don't think I can handle that rn. I realise I might have a different opinion if I'd watched them.

What do you think? Do you think it is possible to sleepwalk and kill someone without knowing it?

Idk, are there different degrees of sleepwalking? Different rates of - light to heavy-as-a-log sleeping while sleepwalking? If so, I suppose it might be possible. Sounds kind of mind-boggling to me though. Rather far-fetched, but otoh sometimes strange phenomena are discovered.

MOO

 

[Tricia]

We are discussing this case on Websleuths YouTube Live at 10:30 PM Eastern.

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[realanastasia]

That's interesting. That would mean that it's not happening with increasing frequency when, say, a young man decides to bump off another young man he has had a long-running dispute with? Or even when a young adult/teenage brother decides to bump off his younger brother?

If that is all the case, then why would having a sister increase the rate of parasomnia? Hmm.

Note: I haven't watched any of the Youtube links, don't think I can handle that rn. I realise I might have a different opinion if I'd watched them.

Idk, are there different degrees of sleepwalking? Different rates of - light to heavy-as-a-log sleeping while sleepwalking? If so, I suppose it might be possible. Sounds kind of mind-boggling to me though. Rather far-fetched, but otoh sometimes strange phenomena are discovered.

MOO

To be clear, I was commenting only on the relatively high (IMO) number of cases which involved a young man murdering his sister (in comparison to the number of cases in which, say, a young woman murdered her sister or a young man murdered his brother). I was not commenting on the frequency with which people have blamed their murderous acts on parasomnia—I actually think this might be my first exposure to a case where parasomnia is being offered as a defense. Apologies if my original post was unclear!

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I remember a few years ago hearing about a case where the accused man insisted he had been asleep when he committed his crime (I think he killed someone but not positive).

I don't think I saw it here -- maybe it was a Forensic Files TV case?

My memory says he was taken seriously in his claim of sleep-criming -- perhaps even acquitted. I was left with the impression that this can indeed happen. Anyone recall the episode I'm thinking of?

 

[vls12345]

This is a crazy case. It was in our Spotlight on Children forum so I moved it here.
What do you think? Do you think it is possible to sleepwalk and kill someone without knowing it?

I feel really torn. A good friend of mine growing up (and her mom) were both sleepwalkers. Their house was locked down (deadbolts, chain locks, etc., randomly locked or unlocked by the dad each night to try to slow them down getting outside) and I saw my friend do strange things as a sleepwalker. Her mom did too (including wandering outside and getting about 2 blocks away). You could have what seemed like logical conversations with them but they would have absolutely zero memory of anything that happened, and after one wild incident, my friend absolutely refused to believe it happened (even though her parents and I witnessed it and told her about it). She really thought we were in on some joke together to try to pull her leg. We weren't.

Anyway, it's hard. Someone claiming parasomnia for a murder defense is hard to reconcile and has to be based on opinion, not fact (due to no other witnesses at the time). If I didn't have a friend that I observed multiple times growing up doing weird and wacky things while sleepwalking, I wouldn't believe it as a defense. But, based on my own observations, I think there's a (remote) possibility it could happen.

The prosecution said he was using his phone 20 minutes before making the 911 call. I think that makes me lean away from parasomnia being a reasonable defense. However, if I were on the jury, I think I would feel like the appropriate charge might be manslaughter, especially after family members have testified that he was known to sleepwalk and/or there's a family history of sleepwalking.

Idk. It's a tough call. I don't know all the details that have been presented at the trial so far so that might also impact what I think about it. MOO.

Family history of sleepwalking comes up during Katy man's murder trial

The defense told the jury that then-17-year-old Benjamin Elliott suffered from parasomnia the morning his twin sister was fatally stabbed in 2021.

www.khou.com

 

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[arielilane]

@JMilesKHOU

I’m at court monitoring the murder trial of Benjamin Elliott who claims he was sleepwalking when he fatally stabbed his twin sister, Meghan, in 2021. Both were 17. Coverage, including audio from the dramatic 911 call, later on @KHOU.

Background:

https://khou.com/article/news/crime/katy-twin-teen-stabbing-benjamin-elliott/285-f9623d18-116b-4239-b050-13e366a36773

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Here for the third day of Benjamin Elliott’s murder trial. The now 21-year-old is charged with fatally stabbing his twin sister, Meghan, in 2021 while supposedly sleepwalking. Coverage on @KHOU.

Get caught up:

https://khou.com/article/news/crime/murder-trial-houston-man-twin-sister-death/285-66c1d559-4f1c-419e-bf88-10cb4a0e3f6a

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[arielilane]

@JMilesKHOU

“I stabbed her and then suddenly wasn’t.” Benjamin Elliott, on trial for allegedly murdering his twin, said it was like a “realistic nightmare” in initial interview with detectives. More from the video played for the jury on @KHOU at 5:00

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Twin murder trial: parasomnias (which includes sleepwalking) brought up by Benjamin Elliott’s defense as it presents case following state resting. Jury told sudden, violent behavior can occur during slow wave sleep.

Coverage on @KHOU.

Background:

https://khou.com/article/news/crime/harris-county-twin-murder-trial/285-0989d7f6-dd2a-4361-9440-a282923148ce





12:31 PM · Feb 20, 2025