Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Whit Johnson reportingIt was a tragic start to Father's Day in Orem when a dispute between a father and son turned deadly.
Police are still investigating why a man allegedly stabbed and murder his own father with a kitchen knife. It happened around 9:00 Sunday morning on the 800 block of North Main Street in Orem. It was a Father's Day morning people in the Orem neighborhood likely will never forget.
Police say an argument between the father and son turned deadly inside their home. Michael Kirsch, 31, allegedly stabbed his 62-year-old father, Christopher Kirsch, multiple times in the chest and back with a 10-inch long carving knife.
Michael Kirsch's mother, Christopher's wife, called police.
A neighbor, Coburn Bristol, said, "The next thing I know I hear her on the phone. ‘He stabbed Dad! He stabbed Dad!'" "My heart skipped a beat probably thinking that there's someone with a knife standing inside right there."
Officers arrived within minutes.
Lt. Douglas Edwards of the Orem Department of Public Safety said, "This poor mother [is] obviously devastated. Not only has she lost her husband, but her son is responsible." Neighbors could only watch in shock.
Bristol said, "It was just five cop cars right away, and they all came out with guns drawn right inside the house."
Officers found Christopher Kirsch bleeding on the floor of his bedroom. He died a short time later in a nearby hospital.
As for the victim's son Michael, Lt. Edwards said, "He has done a stint in the prison for, coincidentally enough, an aggravated assault involving a knife in 2004."
Police say despite Michael's violent history, his parents allowed him to live with them in an effort to provide proper care for his psychiatric problems. Michael's parents are both teachers. Mr. Kirsch was a history professor at Utah Valley State College.
Bristol said, "They just seemed like a normal family helping people out, then this happens."
Police say Michael Kirsch never attempted to run. He was arrested without incident and is being held in the Utah County jail.
E-mail: wjohnson@ksl.com