ST. GEORGE, Utah — A man high on inhalants attacked his grandparents Sunday with the intent of killing them both.
Jacob Klein was cursing loudly in his room at his grandparent's St. George home when his grandmother asked him to stop. After the request, Klein became volatile and attacked the couple, kicking his grandfather in the abdomen and face.
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Klein then chased his grandmother outside the house and attacked her, causing cuts on her arms and breaking her nose.
During the attack, Klein told his grandparents that he would kill them and that he had a pistol inside the home. Klein had been renting a room from the couple for two weeks before the attack.
When a police officer arrived, he attempted to place Klein in handcuffs before getting help from another officer who arrived on the scene.
Upon searching the home, officers found two empty cans of Dust Off, along with a new can underneath, in Klein's room.
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Klein's father told police that his son had a history of abusing inhalants and believed he was using inhalants Sunday. His father also said Jacob's mental health had been deteriorating for a while and that he was hoping to get treatment for his son.
While being interviewed by police, Klein said the only reason he stopped attacking his grandfather was because he believed he was already dead. Klein said he attacked his grandparents because he thought he saw his grandfather take a shard of glass to his grandmother, although no evidence was found to support the claim.
Klein was placed under arrest and charged with homicide due to the officer's belief that the grandfather had died; the man is still alive but his condition is unknown.
Police also charged Klein with criminal mischief, threat of violence, use or possession of psychotoxic chemicals, interference with an arresting officer, assault on a police officer and aggravated assault.
