Accused Bridgewater Stabber ID'd; Police Release Details

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A Bridgewater man who stabbed his father and killed another woman was arrested after he barricaded himself inside the home Monday night, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. Michael Litwornia, 27, of Washington Valley Road, in the Martinsville section of Bridgewater Township, was charged with first-degree homicide and second- degree aggravated assault.

At around 8:20 p.m. on April 18, Michael Litwornia's 61-year-old father called 911. When police arrived they found the father and owner of the Washington Valley Road home suffering from severe stab wounds and lacerations, Robertson said.

Police also found a 61-year-old woman inside the home, who has not been positively identified as Litwornia's mother until the next of kin can be notified, the prosecutor's office said.

The woman was also suffering from multiple stab wounds and lacerations. She was evacuated from the home and given lifesaving measures. However, the victim was later declared dead upon the arrival of medics.

Bridgewater officers tried to make contact with Michael Litwornia, who had barricaded himself within the house. At the same time, additional officers established a perimeter of the home and began to evacuate/shelter in place local residents within the operational perimeter.

A Nixle alert was sent out to residents around 10:30 p.m. stating Washington Valley Road between Crim and Tullo roads was closed for police activity.

The Somerset County SWAT and Hostage/Crisis Negotiators, detectives from the Bridgewater Township Police Department, along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics Unit and the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded as well.

Hostage/Crisis negotiators attempted to talk with Michael Litwornia, who refused to communicate. A mechanical robot was then sent into the home, which found Litwornia lying on a couch, Robertson said.

At around 11 p.m. when SWAT entered the home, Litwornia tried to grab a sharp force instrument but was quickly taken down by SWAT members. Litwornia was found to have self-inflicted wounds to his body and was quickly transported to an area hospital for emergency treatment, Robertson said.

Litwornia's father was transported to an area trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery and is listed in critical condition.

Police are still investigating what led up to this deadly encounter and to establish a motive for the assaults.

An autopsy of the female victim is scheduled at the medical examiner’s office.

Litwornia remains at an area hospital under police guard. When released, he will be lodged at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

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