NORTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Bucks County man is charged with the stabbing death of his elderly parents and his sister. Their bodies were found in their Churchville home during the man's hours-long standoff with police on Monday.
Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said the boyfriend of 53-year-old Deborah Castiglia called Northampton Township Police after he went to her parents' home on Heather Road in Churchville, because he hadn't heard from her since Saturday. On Sunday, he knocked on the door, and no one answered.
When he went back on Monday, Khan said Deborah's 55-year-old brother, Kevin Castiglia, who lived with their parents, answered the door.
"The defendant was dressed in a robe and claimed that his sister was probably on vacation before brandishing a large psycho style chef's knife, and threatened to kill the boyfriend," said Khan.
He said the boyfriend then immediately called 911. When police knocked on the door, they said Kevin answered, holding two knives, one with what looked like blood on it.
"Despite the use of less-than-lethal Taser devices, the defendant retreated and barricaded himself in a second-floor bedroom for five hours," Khan said.
During the standoff, police discovered Deborah's body in the kitchen. Her parents, Fred Castiglia, 90, and Judith Castiglia, 84, were found stabbed to death in their beds.
Officials said the victims were a math teacher at William Tennent High School and a couple who had recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Kevin Castiglia confessed to the murders, saying he killed his parents while they slept and then his sister when she found them. Prosecutors said it is unclear at this time what prompted the stabbings.
Castiglia is charged with criminal homicide, and prosecutors expect to pursue first-degree murder.
