First Posted: 2/4/2015
VAN WERT — A Van Wert man changed his plea Wednesday to guilty to four charges relating to a triple stabbing in October.
Michael Keipper, 25, of Van Wert, pleaded guilty to attempted murder, a first-degree felony, aggravated burglary, also a first-degree felony and two counts of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, according to Mike Kirkendall, baliff for the Van Wert County Courthouse.
A fifth count of felonious assault was dismissed in exchange for his plea.
On Oct. 26, the stabbing sent Megan A. Gillette, 24, Raenita L. Hibbard, 32, and Kody N. Detwiler, 24, to the Van Wert County Hospital.
The incident took place inside an apartment at 106 S. Wall St., in Van Wert when Keipper broke into an apartment and stabbed the victims. Gillette is Keipper ’s spouse but they are separated. Detwiler is Gillette’s new boyfriend. Hibbard lives downstairs at the apartment building where the stabbing occurred.
Keipper was arrested at the scene shortly after the first officer arrived.
After transported to the hospital, Gillette and Hibbard were treated, then released. Detwiler was flown by medical helicopter to Lutheran Hospital of Indiana in Fort Wayne.
The court ordered a presentencing investigation and set a date for sentencing for 9 a.m. March 11.
