'Grandson' Who Stabbed Virginia Pastor and Wife in Their Sleep Arrested; Couple Making Slow Recovery
Max Chisholm, the 21-year-old Virginia man who allegedly stabbed a pastor and his wife who took him into their home and treated him like a "grandson," was arrested by local police last week after a two-day manhunt.
The pastor, Hugh Mayes, is recovering in a hospital and has "a long way to go," while his wife, Carol, was treated and released into the care of her family.
Shiloh Baptist Church, where Hugh Mayes serves as lead pastor, gave an update on the couple's condition in a Facebook post over the weekend.
"I've got great news everyone! Carol is out of the hospital and slowly recovering at home with family," noted the post on Saturday. "Hugh is improving daily but has a long way to go."
Chisholm, who was taken into custody last week, allegedly took off with the couple's 2010 blue Ford Escape and $800 after breaking into the Mayes' home last Monday morning and stabbing the couple multiple times in their sleep.
He was spotted in the car by a Richmond Patrol Officer who informed other law enforcement, according to a U.S. Marshal Service's spokesman.
"This is another great example of how teamwork and inter-agency communication can bring a quick arrest in another very tragic case in the region," said Bobby Mathieson, U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Chisholm's actions come as a surprise to members of Shiloh Baptist who said the pastor and his wife took him into their home and helped him for the last nine months.
"They loved him so much they called him their grandson," Stacy Jernigan, a longtime church member at Shiloh Baptist Church, told the Times-Dispatch.
Jernigan told Times-Dispatch that Chisholm had taken a turn for the worse shortly before the stabbing as he tried to kill himself in Richmond Park.
He now faces two counts of attempted murder, one count of breaking and entering, one count of robbery, and one count of larceny of a motor vehicle which are all considered felonies.
Shiloh Baptist Church continues to ask for prayers for the couple and even started a GoFundMe campaign for donations.
"I cannot stress enough how thankful my church and myself are to have such supportive people around the community and from around the world! It brought tears to the Mayes family when they heard the amount of love and support everyone has sent out," Shiloh Baptist's Facebook page read.