William Michael Stankewicz

William Michael Stankewicz
Born	1945 (1945) Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	November 27, 2023 (aged 78) Jackson Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Teacher
Criminal status	Deceased
Criminal charge	Attempted murder
Penalty	132 to 264 years in prison
Details
Date	February 2, 2001
Location(s)	North Hopewell-Winterstown Elementary School, Red Lion, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Killed	0
Injured	14

William Michael Stankewicz (1945 – November 27, 2023) was an American teacher who attacked educators and children at North Hopewell-Winterstown Elementary School in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, in 2001. Stankewicz attacked 11 kindergarteners, two teachers, and the principal with a machete.

Stankewicz said he attacked the victims because he was angry about the failure of his marriage six years earlier, and allegations he had molested his stepdaughters.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Principal Norina Bentzel stopped the attack by jumping on Stankewicz and pinning him down, despite having been severely injured by hits from the machete.[5]

On February 2, 2001, Stankewicz drove from his home in Johnson City, Tennessee, to York County. Along the way, he tried to buy a gun but failed the mandatory background check.[5]

On November 27, 2023, Stankewicz was found unresponsive in his cell at the State Correctional Institution – Dallas and was subsequently declared dead. He was 78.[7]

References

1. Cadiz, Laura (February 5, 2001). "Ex-wife says she feared man accused in Pa. school attack". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
2. "Marital troubles of suspect recalled - tribunedigital-baltimoresun". Articles.baltimoresun.com. February 4, 2001. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
3. "Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search". January 25, 2013. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013.
4. "Beaver County Times - Google News Archive Search". January 24, 2013. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013.
5. "Image Viewer". www.ydr.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
6. [1] Archived September 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
7. Halpin, Jim (November 27, 2023). "Notorious school machete attacker William Stankewicz dies in prison". York Daily Record. Retrieved November 27, 2023.