MEDFORD, Ore. — An Oregon teenager accused of stabbing his sister and killing his mother has pleaded guilty to the charges.
Ezekiel Holmes, 14, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Jackson County juvenile court to charges of murder, attempted murder and first-degree assault in the January 2017 attack that injured his 16-year-old sister and killed 52-year-old Pam Wolosz, the Mail Tribune reported.
Holmes, who was 12 at the time, grabbed a knife in the kitchen of his Ashland home and stabbed Wolosz multiple times, said Ruby Herriott, the Jackson County deputy district attorney. He then went upstairs and stabbed his sister multiple times, causing wounds to her back, head, arm and shoulder, she said.
“There was a struggle for the murder weapon between Mr. Holmes and his mother,” Herriott said.
Wolosz later gained control of the knife before collapsing to her death, Herriott said.
Herriott declined to say what may have precipitated the attack.
At the hearing Tuesday, Judge Kelly Ravassipour said Holmes was determined to lack the sophistication and maturity needed to understand the nature of his actions, so he will remain in the juvenile system.
The teen is scheduled to be sentenced in mid-October.
Defense attorney Emily Simon declined to comment about the case.
Jim Holmes, the teen’s father, said his daughter is recovering physically and emotionally.
“She is really strong,” he said. “She’s doing pretty well.”
Ezekiel Holmes is getting the help he needs while incarcerated, his father said.
“It’s been hard; it’s been very difficult,” Jim Holmes said. “We have been very fortunate that we’ve had a lot of great support from the community. Zeke has gotten great legal support. He’s gotten all of the other support that he needs.”
