Stabbing Victim, Lower Bucks Suspect Had 2-Month Relationship: DA

LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —They were in a relationship for two months, authorities said.

During a press conference on Monday, Bucks County District Attorney outlined the relationship between Jaden Battista and Trevor Christopher Weigel, who has been charged with fatally stabbing his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend to death outside the Lower Makefield Township home she shared with her grandmother.

"They were former partners who dated for two months," Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. "The relationship recently ended and they remained amicable."

That status changed Friday when Weigel, 23, of Churchville, broke into the home in the 2500 block of Waterford Road

Weigel was arraigned Sunday afternoon by Magisterial District Judge Michael W. Petrucci in Newtown during a video appearance from his hospital room on charges of criminal homicide, burglary, possession of an instrument of crime, disorderly conduct, and harassment. He was denied bail.

Schorn said that first-degree murder charges would be argued for in the case.

Lower Makefield Township Police Chief Kenneth D. Coluzzi said that Battista was stabbed 15 times with "two vital blows" to her neck and aorta artery. She died from the wounds at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne.

Authorities said there had been some indication of threats recently, but would not go into detail, stating that the crime is still under investigation. There had been no Protection of Abuse Order from Weigel that was filed, authorities said.

"We're not answering specifics," Schorn said. "We are not suggesting any failure on Jaden's part."

In a court affidavit obtained by Patch Sunday, Lower Makefield Township Police was dispatched at 2:22 p.m. Friday to the Waterford Road residence for the report of a burglary in progress.

Upon arrival, Lower Makefield Township Police Officer Robert Kennedy saw a man standing next to a red, two-door Ford Mustang, parked in front of the address.

Kennedy said he saw the man chase after a woman, tackle her to the ground, and begin stabbing her in the upper portion of her body.

As the police officer got closer, he saw that the woman was bleeding heavily from the chest area and the man started fleeing the scene on foot, toward Interstate 295.

Kennedy said that while fleeing, he observed Weigel stab himself on the right side of his neck. Kennedy immediately began providing aid to the woman.

Police used a taser to apprehend Weigel, who had stab wounds to his neck. Schorn said that he underwent surgery at St. Mary Medical Center and is expected to recover from his injuries.

Body-worn cameras from police officers involved in Weigel's apprehension on Interstate 295 show him saying that he found out that she (who law enforcement believes to be Battista) was cheating on him and he "lost it."

Police learned through investigation that Battista's friend, who was not named, was speaking with Battista over a Facetime call. Authorities said they do not know why Battista was outside the home.