A Jaffrey man has been charged with attempted murder, assault, kidnapping and burglary after he allegedly broke into a residence of a couple he did not know in Litchfield, according to police.
Ian Morris, 25, of Jaffrey, was arrested Wednesday and charged with attempt to commit murder, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of kidnapping and one count of burglary in connection to an investigation of a home invasion on Evergreen Circle in Litchfield in the overnight hours, according to a press release issued by Litchfield police Feb. 23.
According to an affidavit filed at Hillsborough County Superior Court, written by Litchfield Police Department officer Jarrod MacDonald, Morris allegedly attacked a couple in their home while armed with a knife and ax. According to police, the homeowners, a husband and wife, told police they were asleep in bed when Morris entered their bedroom with a hatchet and stood in the doorway.
Morris allegedly asked the husband, “How do you want to die?”
The couple initially believed it was some sort of prank and got out of bed and put on clothes, and Morris allegedly directed the husband to come downstairs with him.
Both residents went downstairs with Morris, who allegedly directed the husband to go outside with him. When the man refused, Morris began to strike him in the head with the blunt end of the hatchet, according to police, and continued the assault as the man moved down the hallway.
During the altercation, Morris allegedly lost possession of the hatchet, which the other homeowner, who was not being assaulted, was able to pick up. The woman stated Morris also had a knife, which she was able to get during the altercation.
Morris and the male homeowner continued fighting and ended up in the bathroom, which is where police stated officers found them when they arrived. When officers arrived, they allegedly observed Morris on the ground in the bathroom with one of the homeowners, who was bleeding from several lacerations to the head and face, while Morris had his arms around him and was gripping his shirt.
Police found drops of blood in the hallway leading to the bathroom and the female homeowner, who was standing outside the bathroom with the knife and hatchet in her hands while Morris and her husband fought in the bathroom. Police removed Morris from the bathroom and placed him in handcuffs.
According to Tammy Jackson, spokeswoman for the New Hampshire Judicial Branch, Morris waived his scheduled arraignment Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Hillsborough County Superior Court in Nashua. According to court documents, Morris was placed in preventative detention, based on evidence his release would endanger the safety of himself or the public.
Morris is accused of kidnapping for allegedly confining the husband to his bedroom by blocking the door, and terrorizing him by brandishing a deadly weapon and asking him how he wanted to die. Kidnapping is a Class B Felony punishable by 3 1/2 to seven years in prison or a $4,000 fine. The second-degree assault charges are related to allegedly hitting the man with the hatchet on at least two occasions, and is also a Class B Felony. Burglary and first-degree assault are Class A felonies and carry sentences of 7 1/2 to 15 years in prison or a $4,000 fine.
Attempted murder is a special felony which carries a sentence of up to life in prison.
The Litchfield Police Department was assisted in this investigation by the New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.