Stillwater man charged in dad's death

The son called 911 to summon help on Saturday night. The wounded man told police his son had stabbed him.

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: October 20, 2009 - 12:04 AM

A 30-year-old man was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the death of his father Saturday night in Stillwater, the Washington County attorney's office said.

David Joseph Janisch is accused of stabbing Gregory Janisch in the chest just before 6 p.m. inside a residence on the 2200 block of Countryside Court.

Gregory Janisch, 57, was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he died about 90 minutes later, said Washington County Attorney Doug Johnson.

"At this point we will not be asking the judge to convene a grand jury," Johnson said Monday. "That can change if there is sufficient probable cause to indicate [David] Janisch premeditated the murder of his father. In that case, we would seek charges of murder in the first degree."

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Washington County District Court, David Janisch called 911 after he allegedly stabbed his father -- hitting him in the right ventricle of his heart.

Officers arrived and found David Janisch in the front yard. A Stillwater police officer noticed that he had blood on his hands and ordered him to the ground. When he got up and made a sudden move toward the officer, police used a Taser to subdue him and take him into custody.

Officers found Gregory Janisch lying in a pool of blood in the entry of the house. They saw his chest wound and asked who had stabbed him.

"My son, he's bipolar," Gregory Janisch said. Then, thinking he didn't have much time, he told officers, "Hurry guys hurry, I'm not going to make it."

Officers also found a knife on the floor about 2 inches from the wounded man. It had blood on it.

When they searched the house, authorities found a black leather knife scabbard in David Janisch's top dresser drawer. Police did not say what type of knife was used.

Gregory Janisch was taken to the hospital, but died around 7:34 p.m., the complaint said. Preliminary reports from the Ramsey County medical examiner indicate he died of a single stab wound to the heart.

Police have been called to the residence for welfare checks in the past, with the most recent call in December, Stillwater Police Chief John Gannaway said.

No motive for the killing has been attributed, and police are still interviewing witnesses and piecing the case together, he said.

David Janisch was being held in the Washington County jail Monday afternoon. He is due in court today, Johnson said.

Tim Harlow • 612-673-7768

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