Maine – In a horrifying case of domestic violence in Maine fueled by apparent delusions, a 59-year-old woman remains hospitalized after her 19-year-old grandson, identified as Ethan H., attacked her with an axe, telling investigators that demons ordered him to kill her. The teenager has been arrested and is facing multiple felony charges.
Ethan was taken into custody on Sunday evening following a violent assault inside his grandparents’ home. He now faces charges of attempted murder, domestic violence elevated aggravated assault, and domestic violence aggravated assault. The brutal attack unfolded on August 17 just before 6:40 p.m., when the sheriff’s office responded to a distress call. According to investigators, the altercation began when Ethan started arguing with his grandfather. His grandmother intervened in an attempt to stop the fight — an act that nearly cost her life.
Moments after she stepped in, Ethan turned on her. She later told deputies that she saw him throw a knife in her direction, and as she attempted to escape, he advanced toward her wielding an axe. He told her, “I’m sorry, Grammie, but I have to,” before violently swinging the weapon at her head and arms. The injuries were devastating. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital, where surgeons had to remove part of her skull due to the severity of the wounds.
The teenager fled the scene before deputies arrived, prompting a short manhunt. Officers eventually located him on a nearby road and arrested him without further incident. According to a police report, Ethan later told investigators that he had been hearing voices—demons, he claimed—that commanded him to commit the attack. The voices, he said, were relentless, instructing him to “just do it, kill her.”
Ethan had reportedly been banned from his grandparents’ home prior to the incident, though the reason for that ban was not immediately disclosed. Still, on that Sunday, he was at the house, and his mental state appears to have deteriorated to the point of violence. Police have not yet released information regarding any prior mental health evaluations or criminal history.
Ethan remains in custody at the county jail as the legal process begins to unfold. He has not yet entered a plea, and no bail has been granted. A court date has not been publicly announced. The family grapples with the trauma inflicted by one of their own, especially as the victim fights for her life in a hospital bed following the sudden and gruesome assault. Investigators continue to examine the case, including whether Ethan’s statements about hearing demons will play a role in his defense. For now, the charges—and the brutal nature of the attack—underscore the seriousness of the case and the danger posed in moments when mental illness goes unaddressed.
