Ben Walsh had reportedly never been violent before.
Police have a 24-year-old Massachusetts man in custody after they say he murdered his 20-year-old girlfriend and stabbed both of his parents.
On Feb. 10, officers responded to an incident at an Italian restaurant in Millis. A group of family members were out celebrating a birthday when Ben Walsh arrived barefoot and holding a large knife.
Witnesses said Walsh first attacked his mother, Laura Walsh. He then stabbed his father, Michael Walsh.
Other family members were able to subdue him and tie him up until police arrived. Michael Walsh was treated for his wounds and released, and Laura Walsh is still in the hospital in serious condition.
According to Michael Walsh, his son was "out of his mind."
After Ben Walsh was taken into custody, his brother called the police and told them they needed to check on Olivia Bergstrom, Ben Walsh's girlfriend. They shared a home together in Needham.
"My son, my other son, called the Needham Police and asked them to check on Olivia, and we didn't hear anything else," Michael Walsh said. "I think i was in the emergency room when I saw on television there was a fatal stabbing in Needham and that's when I feared it was her."
When officers arrived at the home, they found Bergstrom dead. She had been stabbed multiple times.
Ben Walsh's father said his son has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues.
"I know that when Ben realizes what he did last night he will be devastated," said Michael Walsh. "She's, you know, a person he relies a lot on for support, I know she's not a person he would ever want to hurt."
During his arraignment on Monday, Ben Walsh wept and moaned from his hospital bed as a prosecutor described to him what he had done.
His mental health — or lack thereof — is going to be a major issue going forward,” his defense attorney Randall Power said. “From what I’ve seen so far, it certainly appears to be an aberration from his behavior.”
Emily Blackwood is an editor at YourTango who covers pop culture, true crime, dating, relationships and everything in between. Every Wednesday at 7:20 p.m. you can ask her any and all questions about self-love, dating, and relationships LIVE on YourTango’s Facebook page. You can follow her on Instagram (@blackw00d) and Twitter (@emztweetz).