The man arrested for fatally stabbing a 93-year-old Roselawn woman on Tuesday, apparently has been in mental facilities for a decade for stabbing other women in that area in the late 1990s.
Twenty-eight-year old James House III was arraigned Thursday morning at the Hamilton County Justice Center for the murder of Ida Martin.
Martin was stabbed at least four times Tuesday evening, as she walked in front of her apartment on Summit Road. She was transported to the hospital where she later died.
House was reportedly released earlier this year, after spending 10 years in various mental facilities. In 1999, he was charged with two counts of attempted murder for stabbing two women in Roselawn in December of 1998. He was acquitted by reason of insanity. House was 17 years old at time, and the case was handled in juvenile court.
Police say they arrested House at his family's home in Golf Manor Wednesday night. Detectives have not yet released any other details on what led them to arrest House.A judge set House's bond at $1 million on Thursday. He will have a mental evaluation before he reports to the grand jury.
Several neighbors and community leaders who attended the arraignment Thursday morning say they were shocked to learn that House was charged a decade ago with attempted murder.
They say they can't believe the system allowed this to happen all over again, with deadly results. Roselawn Community Council leader Michael Watson tells 9News, "Mrs. Martin was walking in the community for years. She was a pillar of the community, a fixture. And she will be missed. This is a travesty."
Watson says several Roselawn events planned between now and this weekend will include remembrances of Mrs. Martin. There are even thoughts of dedicating a plaque somewhere in Roselawn Park to the woman who lived in the neighborhood for almost 40 years.
On Wednesday night, neighbors, friends and community leaders gathered for a candlelight vigil outside of Martin's home on Summit Road.
Police say they aren't sure why House wanted to stab Martin as she took an evening walk. Asst. Police Chief Michael Cureton tells 9News, "We're not confident that the motive is as clear as stealing something. We're not sure Mrs. Martin had anything to steal, really."
Witnesses to the deadly stabbing say they saw a man approach Martin and pull a white bandana up over his face before attacking the woman.
Late word from Ida Martin's family is that funeral arrangements for Mrs. Martin are still pending. It's possible we may know more about that later on Thursday.