Monticello man charged with 2 counts of murder after mom, half-sister stabbed

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - The 20 year old authorities say stabbed his mother and 6-year-old half-sister to death last Saturday was charged with two counts of murder Tuesday.

David Rodenbarger was arrested early Saturday morning at his home on East Richey Park after police received a 911 call of a stabbing.

When investigators arrived, they found 41-year-old Michelle Haskins and 6-year-old Jillian Haskins dead of stabbing wounds. Rodenbarger was taken into custody at the home and was booked into the White County Jail.

You can learn more details in our original story.

Tuesday morning, Rodenbarger faced Superior Court 1 in White County and was charged with two counts of murder. He also waffled back and forth on having an attorney appointed to represent him. After saying he would like one appointed, he changed his mind saying he didn't want one. Shortly after, he retracted that, and confirmed he would like an attorney appointed to represent him.

Many family members were present in the courtroom Tuesday.

News 18 also received the affidavit of probable cause in the case. In it police said they responded to the Monticello home Saturday and found what appeared to be two dead bodies.

They found Rodenbarger at the home in blood-stained clothes. He admitted to police he stabbed Jillian and Michelle with a knife and pronged fork.

An autopsy showed Michelle's cause of death was a stab wound to the throat. Jillian's cause of death is said to be stab wounds and brain swelling.

There is still no word on a possible motive.

Rodenbarger's pre-trial hearing will take place at 9 a.m. April 10 in White County.