EVANS CITY — With more details coming to light, mental health likely will play a pivotal role in a case involving a Cranberry Township man accused of stabbing his father.

“We’ll likely explore some type of mental infirmity defense,” said public defender Ryan Helsel.

Brought from Butler County Prison, Richard J. Myers, 31, appeared Tuesday before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz. Myers remains in jail without bond, a decision made at his arraignment April 26 by District Judge Kevin O’Donnell, who cited the safety of the family and community.

Myers is charged with felony counts of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, as well as misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Marcinkeiwicz moved forward all of Myers’ charges to Butler Common Pleas Court. She did so after hearing testimony from Myers’ father, Richard E. Myers, who told his account of the alleged attack April 25 at his Adams Township home.

As his father was sworn in to testify, Myers watched carefully from the defense table, grinning. The defendant continued to periodically break into lipped grins and toothy smiles, even as his father described the events of his son’s visit to his home.

The father said the two were preparing dinner in his kitchen. He said his relationship with his son was good, and he helped the young man whenever he could. The father acknowledged his son has a history of mental health issues.

“We were going to make some burgers and tater tots,” Richard E. Myers said. “I noticed my son was behind me, and I felt almost like a baseball bat hit me in the back.”

The father said he retreated down the basement steps, which were about 10 feet from the kitchen island where the strike happened. He said at the bottom of the steps, he turned toward his son, standing at the top, and he saw a menacing face looking back at him.

He said he also heard guttural, angry tones coming from his son, who then tossed the knife down the basement stairs at him. The father said he then exited through a basement door, concerned his son would continue to attack him.

After exiting the home, he told a neighbor to call 911. He said the neighbor also inspected his wound, which was near his right shoulder blade.

“The knife cut my back,” Richard E. Myers said. “It was a small cut.”

Myers said before police and EMS arrived, he saw his son standing at the front door. He said his son made no effort to leave the home.

“He came to the front door, and from the front door, he waved to me,” the father said.

Adams Township officer Chris Kopas testified that upon arrival, he talked with the father, who was later seen by EMTs at the scene. The father needed no additional medical attention, and he testified that he did not need stitches.

Officer Kopas said when he and his partner entered, they looked on a rug in the basement for the knife, where the father recalled it had landed. Kopas said he looked up the stairs and saw Myers, who surrendered without incident.

Kopas said he then took the father into the home to help locate the knife, and the search gravitated toward the kitchen.

“Tater tots were kind of thrown about that area,” said Kopas, more specifically referencing the kitchen counter.

He said in the sink they found three knives, two of which the father identified as being there before the incident. Kopas said the father pointed out the third knife as the one his son had wielded.

“The knife in and of itself appeared clean,” Kopas said. “The tip of the knife had a piece of brown fiber adhered to it.”

Kopas said the fiber looked as though it matched the basement rug.

Kopas said after the knife was found, he Mirandized and interviewed Myers in the back of his partner’s cruiser.

“He said he had a feeling to stab his father, so he stabbed him,” Kopas said.

Kopas also testified Myers admitted his “intent” was to kill his father, a point Helsel focused on during cross-examination. Helsel asked if Myers said his “intent was to kill” or if the officer asked Myers if his “intent was to kill.”

“I asked him what his intent was,” Kopas said. “He said, ‘To kill him.’”

As testimony concluded, Helsel argued for dismissal of the attempted homicide charge. He pointed to the minor wounds both the officer and the father had testified to, as well as the weapon of choice.

The father said there were sharper knives in kitchen at the time, but instead, he was stabbed with a knife with a more blunted point, one meant for chopping.

“Maybe that alone goes to the defendant’s intention,” Helsel said. “The injuries here were relatively minor. We’re very fortunate.”

Helsel also took issue with the backseat confession.

“It seems the defendant is only believed when he’s making an incriminating statement,” he said.

Assistant District Attorney David Beichner said there was enough evidence to advance the case beyond the confession.

“You still have a knife used on the torso of a victim, who said it felt like a baseball bat hitting them,” Beichner said.

With the case headed to trial, Helsel reiterated the issue of mental health after the hearing, and he also added his client’s lack of a criminal history, let alone any violent offenses.

“The defendant has some serious mental health issues we need to explore,” Helsel said.

Myers will appear next for formal arraignment June 28 in county court.