Despite his mother's pleas, a Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing his mother will remain in jail on $500,000 bail

Judge Scott Mears decided Friday not to reduce the bail of a Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing his mother, calling it one of the saddest cases he has handled while was sitting on the bench.

This is at least the second time in three months that defense attorneys have asked the court that Mears reduce bail for 46-year-old Kort Noel Eckman. Public defender James Spriestersbach said if Eckman was released from Westmoreland County Jail, he could continue mental health treatment while awaiting trial and potentially live with his mother Rose Eckman.

“We are working on a medical defense for Mr. Eckman,” Spriestersbach said.

Eckman's bail is set at $500,000. He is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related offenses in what authorities said was an Oct. 3 stabbing of his mother at their Armbrust-Hecla Road home. He has been in jail since then.

Rose Eckman was stabbed up to 20 times. Kort Eckman claimed he believed she was a Nazi war criminal when he jumped her in bed and stabbed her multiple times in the chest, police said.

Attorney Matt Schimizzi, who represents Rose Eckman, said during Friday's hearing that she was not concerned about another attack if her son were to be released.

“She absolutely wants her son home,” Schimizzi said. “She thinks this is an isolated incident.”

Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp opposed any bail reduction.

“This was an unprovoked assault while she was sleeping,” Knupp said. “I believe the bail as it stands is appropriate to ensure the safety of the community and her mother.”

Mears rejected a defense request to reduce bail to $50,000.

“The circumstances as alleged by the Commonwealth are such that one would think that his mental health was involved,” although Mears said he had not received any documentation to confirm that suspicion.

He feared there would be no guarantee to protect Rose Eckman and no assurance that her son, if released, would not attack him again.

“It’s a difficult situation,” Mears said. “It’s one of the saddest situations I’ve seen as a judge. I just don’t think it’s appropriate for me to take any action at this point.”