Texas Teen Who Fatally Stabbed His Twin Sister While She Slept Claimed He Was Sleepwalking: Police

A Texas man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of fatally stabbing his twin sister while she slept in 2021, despite initially claiming that he was sleepwalking while the attack took place.

On September 29, 2021, 17-year-old Meghan Elliott was found dead in her Katy-area home after allegedly being stabbed multiple times by her twin brother, Benjamin Elliott, according to ABC 13.

In a 911 call, Benjamin claimed he had been dreaming when he attacked his sister, only to realize it was real when he woke up. He attempted to perform CPR on Meghan, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the trial, Elliott's defense team argued that he had been sleepwalking during the attack, bringing in expert testimony about parasomnia, a sleep disorder that can lead to unconscious actions.

However, prosecutors countered with evidence suggesting premeditation, including phone data showing Elliott had been awake before the stabbing, his steps recorded going to and from his sister's bedroom and how he turned off his school alarm after the attack. They also pointed out that he had acquired the knife the night before the killing.

After a week-long trial, on Monday the jury deliberated for about five hours before finding Elliott guilty of murder. The following day, Judge Danilo Lacayo sentenced him to 15 years in prison.