Five-Year-Old Fatally Stabs Twin Brother
They Were Fighting, “As Siblings Sometimes Do”
On November 15, 2023, in Scotts Valley, CA, twin five-year-old boys got into a fight. One grabbed a small kitchen knife and stabbed the other in the neck. The stabbed boy died at the hospital despite lifesaving efforts by deputies, emergency personnel, and hospital staff.
The incident took place around 4:00 p.m. on a Wednesday. By Thursday afternoon, the case had been investigated and resolved, with no charges being filed and an announcement that no identifying information would be released.
Of course, this is a tragic situation. It’s a parent’s worst nightmare, not only for the loss of a young child but the ongoing concern for the remaining child who will always carry this memory. What do you do with a five-year-old that has killed someone?
When the District Attorney’s office announced no charges, they said:
“California law dictates that age, criminal intent, and knowledge of wrongfulness are factors needed to charge a child with a crime, no indication of negligence or criminal activity by those involved.”
