An East Hempfield Township man charged with stabbing his sister to death and injuring his brother during a bloody knife attack in his home will have his case proceed to county court following a preliminary hearing last week. 

Judge Brian Chudzik ruled July 29 that the case of Bryan Emeric Adolph, 26, could proceed to the Court of Common Pleas on charges of criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and a single count of possessing an instrument of crime.

Adolph is accused of stabbing his 28-year-old sister Elyse Adolph to death inside his residence in the 1100 block of Persimmon Drive shortly after 10:30 a.m. 

Police found Elyse dead in a pool of blood inside the residence when they arrived.

Another victim, Adolph’s 24-year-old brother, told police Adolph had stabbed him and Elyse inside the residence before he armed himself with a handgun in self-defense. Adolph’s brother, who had numerous visible puncture wounds to his arms and was bleeding heavily, was taken to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries. 

In an interview with police Adolph said he became angry when the victims’ dogs were continuously barking. At one point Adolph grabbed and punched one of the dogs in the nose, he said. 

Elyse witnessed Adolph striking the dog and confronted him, he told police. That’s when Adolph grabbed several small knives from a kitchen draw and began attacking Elyse, attempting to stab her in the neck, he said. 

Adolph told police he believes he stabbed his sister 20 times.

During the attack Adolph’s brother attempted to intervene and struck him on the head with a glass plate, Adolph said. Adolph then turned his attention toward him and began stabbing him.

After stabbing Elyse to death Adolph went upstairs and took a brief shower to wash himself of blood, he told police. As he returned downstairs he was confronted by his brother, now armed with a gun, and fled the residence.

Patrol officers with East Hempfield Township police arrested Adolph near Good Drive and Route 30 shortly after noon. Adolph had blood on his legs and head when he was arrested and told officers they were from injuries he sustained during his attack.

Adolph remains in Lancaster County Prison without bail.

East Hempfield Township Police Det. Allison Byrnes filed the charges.

First Assistant District Attorney Travis Anderson and Assistant District Attorney Lillian Dittler will prosecute the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.