CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. — A Cumberland County man has pled guilty to criminal attempted murder after he stabbed a female victim multiple times in the face, neck, chest and stomach with a hunting knife.
Jonathan Lepperd entered guilty pleas to criminal attempt to murder of the first degree, retaliation against victim, fleeing and eluding police and criminal solicitation to murder in the first degree.
His sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2024. However, there is an agreement that Lepperd will receive a sentence of 20-40 years in a state correctional institution.
On March 28, 2023, the victim reported to the Pennsylvania State Police that Lepperd assaulted her. That day, she filed for a protection from abuse order.
On March 31, Lepperd waited outside the victim's home. As she attempted to get into her car to go to work that morning, Lepperd attacked her from behind.
He stabbed the victim multiple times in the face, neck, chest and stomach with a 7-inch hunting knife in an attempt to kill her.
A bystander witnessed the brutal attack and intervened, saving the victim's life.
The victim was airlifted to Hershey Medical Center for treatment.
Lepperd then led law enforcement on a high-speed chase. During the chase, Lepperd taunted law enforcement over the phone asking troopers: "You think that PFA was going to stop me?"
He was ultimately apprehended and taken into custody.
While pending trial on his case, Lepperd remained in Cumberland County Prison without bail. While in prison, Lepperd solicited multiple inmates to kill the victim and witnesses involved in his cases.
One in three women and one in four men will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence at www.pcadv.org.
