A man stabbed his two young children hours after he sexually assaulted a woman who lives in his home, police say.
Christian Dillard, 25, of District Heights, Maryland, was arrested Saturday after police were called to a home in the 1700 block of Dennis Court for the report of two stabbings about 10 p.m. When police arrived, they found two children younger than 5, with stab wounds.
The children were taken Children's National Medical Center by ambulance and are in stable condition, police said.
Dillard was taken to Prince George's Hospital Center with apparent self-inflicted wounds, according to charging documents.
Dillard is charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault and related charges.
He also has been charged in connection with the sexual assault of a woman who lives in the home. Dillard's family told News4 that incident was consensual.
On Monday, a judge ordered that Dillard stay in jail with no bond.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Dillard's mother, Michelle Mattison, made a tearful plea in court, saying her son has always been a doting and devoted father.
Outside the courtroom, Mattison told news outlets Dillard didn't remember anything about the incident.
"I talked to Christian yesterday. He said, 'Ma, how are my children? What did I do?," Mattison said. "Christian doesn't remember doing anything, that's how I know this is not him. He just lost it."
"He's not a bad guy. He's an amazing father if you all can just believe me," said Dillard's brother, Ron Porter.
Mattison and other relatives said Dillard had been depressed and was on a downward spiral. She said after attacking the children, Dillard cut himself several times before she and Porter got the knife away from him.
"It was a terrible sight to see the stab wounds in my youngest [grandson] and my older [grandson] crying, Christian whispered in my ear 'Ma, take care of my kids.'"
Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said the family is cooperating with the investigation.
Dillard is due back in court on Dec. 12.
