Man found not guilty by reason of insanity in beating, stabbing of father in Canton

• John M. Holstein IV, 47, was charged with attempted murder and felonious assault after he struck his father's head with a hammer several times and stabbed him in the chest multiple times.
• Holstein was found not competent to stand trial and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
• He was ordered committed to Heartland Behavioral Health Center.

CANTON – A man accused of bashing his father's head with a hammer and stabbing him has been placed in psychiatric care.

John M. Holstein IV, 47, was found not guilty late last month by reason of insanity by Stark County Common Pleas Judge Taryn Heath. He was committed last week to Heartland Behavioral Health Center in Massillon.

A direct indictment charged Holstein with felony attempted murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence and domestic violence after the Sept. 4, 2022, incident at his father's home in the 1200 block of Maryland Avenue SW.

Holstein's public defender Steven Reisch asked the court for an evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.

Marissa Smith trial:'Every single one of us died that day.' Teen gets 15 years to life for park stabbing

According to Canton police reports, police were dispatched to a domestic incident and found Holstein's 68-year-old father with wounds to his head and body.

The victim told police his son, who had no permanent address, hit him in the head with a hammer and stabbed him in the chest. He used pepper spray in an attempt to get away from his son. He said the attack was unprovoked.

Holstein then fled the home tossing the knife into a sewer and changing his clothes at a relative's home, according to police records.

The victim suffered a fractured skull and a lacerated liver and was treated at Aultman Hospital.

An evaluation by the Summit County Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic determined Holstein was not competent to stand trial and the least restrictive placement was suggested. Based on the report, Heath ordered Holstein to be placed in Heartland Behavioral Health Center in Massillon.

The placement was consistent with public safety, she said in her order.

Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com

On Twitter: @aknappINDE