Tyler Hiliand, 26, offered the bizarre excuse after slashing both his parents in their necks with a knife, police say
A son stabbed his cancer-stricken dad and mother – leaving her paralyzed – in a bizarre bid to ‘live a better life’, it was claimed. Tyler Hiland, 26, allegedly flew at dad John and mom Darcy at their home in Minneapolis on December 21. The attack partially-severed Darcy’s spinal cord and left her paralyzed.
She remains in intensive care, and had been the main breadwinner for her family while John underwent chemotherapy treatment for cancer. John managed to call 911 after being stabbed to report what had happened.
Police arrived at the Hiland’s home to find him and his wife with stab wounds to their necks, with Darcy telling first responders that she was unable to move. Tyler Hiland was found in the family’s garage with blood splattered across his hands, face and feet.
He was cuffed and jailed, and allegedly admitted trying to kill his parents during a subsequent interview. Hiland offered the excuse about believing he would ‘live a better life’ if he murdered them, and also admitted using crystal meth before embarking on the bloodbath, according to police records seen by CBS Minnesota.
He has been charged with first and second-degree assault, and faces up to 30 years in jail if convicted.
John and Darcy Hiland, who are also grandparents to twin girls, remain at Hennepin Healthcare hospital. It is unclear whether Darcy will recover from the paralysis caused by the stabbing.
A GoFundMe page set up to help pay the couple’s medical bills says she has partial paralysis, ‘the repercussions of which will likely be with her the rest of her life.’
An update shared on Tuesday added that Darcy has regained some movement on both sides of her body, and is no longer leaking spinal fluid.
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