Man allegedly stabbed father to death in LaPorte

LAPORTE, Ind. (WNDU) – A man has been arrested and charged with murder after police say he stabbed his father to death, leading police on a chase through several counties.

On Monday, officers were called to a home in the 200 block of Lawndale Avenue in LaPorte around 6:30 a.m. When they arrived, they found the victim, identified as Valentin Camarillo, lying in the backyard covered in blood. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The homeowner, a family member, told police that the suspect, identified as Francisco Camarillo, had asked to spend the night at his home. The homeowner allowed Francisco to spend the night in a detached shed in the backyard.

The homeowner was reportedly awakened by Francisco screaming and pacing in the backyard, so he called Francisco's father, Valentin, to come pick Francisco up because he was making a scene.

Valentin arrived in his Ford Explorer and went to the backyard where Francisco was. A short time later, the homeowner said, he looked out the back window and saw Valentin screaming, “Help me, brother, help me, brother, he's going to kill me.”

After stabbing Valentin, Francisco allegedly rummaged through his pocket, took the keys to his Ford Explorer and sped off. Police say Francisco took his mother's phone before fleeing and a family member was able to track the phone using an app.

Officers were able to catch up to Francisco on State Road 104 and stop him, but he sped away, leading officers through Fish Lake, North Liberty, to South Bend and back to North Liberty, where he was eventually taken into custody.

Francisco has been charged with murder and resisting police. He is scheduled to appear in court for an initial hearing on Friday morning.

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