Suspect Accused of Pittsburgh Pediatrician’s Killing Faces New Rape Charge

By Andrew Powell (/journals/andrew-powell)

Elijah Hemingway, the man accused of killing a Pittsburgh-area pediatrician during a home invasion, is facing additional charges after investigators linked him to an alleged sexual assault that occurred hours before the deadly attack. Hemingway, 32, allegedly approached a woman Wednesday morning as she walked along a path connecting to an alley in Wilkinsburg, according to Fox News, which cited the Allegheny County Police Department. Authorities said the woman did not know Hemingway before the alleged attack. Police said Hemingway also took the woman’s cellphone during the incident. Wilkinsburg police alerted county detectives, who investigated the alleged sexual assault while also working on the homicide case. Investigators later recovered multiple items they said connected Hemingway to the reported assault, along with the victim’s stolen cellphone. After consulting with the district attorney’s office, authorities added charges including rape, sexual assault and robbery. The alleged attack occurred shortly before the fatal home invasion in nearby Edgewood, Pennsylvania. Police accuse Hemingway of entering a home early Thursday morning and attacking a married couple while they were asleep. The victim, pediatrician Dr. Idris Evans, 46, was taken to a hospital but was pronounced dead. His wife was critically injured in the attack. According to a police report, Hemingway was wearing only underwear during the incident. Evans’ wife told investigators that the suspect appeared “psychotic” and claimed to be “God” as the confrontation unfolded. The couple fought back, and Evans’ wife yelled for their children, ages 8 and 12, to leave the house. She also told police that Evans called the attacker “Elijah,” although authorities later said they could not confirm whether the two men knew each other. Evans’ wife said she did not know Hemingway and was unsure how he got inside the home. Police also said Hemingway gave investigators an account that conflicted with evidence collected during the investigation. He claimed Evans had invited him to the house earlier that night and said Evans attacked him with a knife, leaving him with a stab wound to his back. Authorities said they found no stab wound on Hemingway’s back and could not locate the bicycle he claimed to have ridden to the home. Hemingway was initially charged with seven offenses in connection with Evans’ death and the home invasion, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary and trespassing. Court records show Hemingway has a criminal history dating to 2016. He was released without bail in July in connection with a February burglary case. Watch the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDShzP296u0