Attorney: Hempfield man who fatally beat elderly father believed 92-year-old was a vampire
Tribune-ReviewJul 03, 2020
Novak was off his medication when he used the wooden arm of a dining room chair in
"He believed what he was doing was killing a vampire. He lay next to (his father) for two days (after the beating) to kill him when he wakes up -- to put a stake through his heart -- because we all know that's how you kill a vampire," Aston said during Novak's sentencing hearing.
Police said Novak fatally beat his father, dragged him under a shower, then to a bed. An autopsy determined the elder Novak died from complications of blunt force trauma to the head, torso and extremities.
The Novaks were found two days later when police responded to a fire at the
Assistant District Attorney
"The vampire story was just one piece of his statement. He also said that he beat his father because he was hiding his phone," Ciaramitaro said.
Novak's mental health has been an issue since his arrest.
He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and was treated for five months at
In court on Thursday, Novak said he accidentally went off his medication and never intended to kill his father, who he described as his biggest supporter in his battle against mental illness.
"I loved my dad with all my heart. He was truly my hero," Novak said.
But his sister,
Novak's friends asked for leniency, describing him as caring man who worked with children and supported his parents.
"I always thought of him as a gentle giant," said friend
Novak will be allowed to serve a portion of his sentence at a mental health facility and will be transferred to a state prison once he is cleared by medical professionals, Feliciani said.
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