Despite pleas from mother, Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing mom will remain in jail on $500K bail

Judge Scott Mears decided Friday against lowering the bond for a Mt. Pleasant Township man accused of stabbing his mother, calling it one of the saddest cases he’s handled while sitting on the bench.

It’s at least the second time in three months defense attorneys have asked in court that Mears reduce bond for Kort Noel Eckman, 46. Public defender James Spriestersbach said that if Eckman was released from the Westmoreland County Prison, he could continue with 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’s charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault and related offenses in what authorities said was a knife attack on his mother Oct. 3 at their Armbrust-Hecla Road home. He has been in jail since then.

Rose Eckman was stabbed as many as 20 times. Kort Eckman claimed he believed she was a Nazi war criminal when he jumped atop her while she was in bed and repeatedly stabbed her in the chest, according to police.

Attorney Matt Schimizzi, who is representing Rose Eckman, said during Friday’s hearing that she has no concern for a repeat attack if her son were to be released.

“She absolutely wants to have her son home,” Schimizzi said. “She believes this was an isolated incident.”

Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp was opposed to any bond reduction.

“This was an unprovoked attack while she slept,” Knupp said. “I do believe that the bond as is is appropriate to ensure the safety of the community and his mother.”

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

“The circumstances as have been alleged by the Commonwealth are such that one would think that his mental health condition entered into the equation,” though Mears said he hasn’t gotten any documentation to confirm that suspicion.

He was concerned there would be no safeguards to protect Rose Eckman or assurance that her son, if released, wouldn’t attack her again.

“It’s a tough 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.”