Beloved Vietnam Veteran Stabbed at Home in Sylacauga

Son says father is stable after attack, calls for community support and forgiveness

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:56am

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An extreme close-up of a single bloody knife blade against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the violent stabbing of an elderly man in his home.A violent attack on a revered Vietnam veteran exposes vulnerabilities in this small Alabama community.Today in Birmingham

An 80-year-old Vietnam veteran named J.W. McElrath was stabbed multiple times while asleep at his home in Sylacauga, Alabama. His son Brozoski McElrath says his father is stable and recovering at a hospital in Birmingham after the attack. Police have arrested a 34-year-old woman named Tashae Devay Whitson in connection with the incident.

Why it matters

This violent attack on a beloved community member has shaken the small town of Sylacauga, raising concerns about elder safety and the need for stronger community watch programs. Despite the tragedy, the victim's son is calling for forgiveness and prayers for the alleged perpetrator.

The details

According to Brozoski McElrath, he had just dropped his father off at home after a doctor's appointment when he received an urgent call that his father had been airlifted to the hospital after being stabbed multiple times. Police arrived at the scene and found J.W. McElrath with serious injuries, including a punctured lung. Tashae Devay Whitson was later arrested at a nearby park and charged with drug paraphernalia possession, though no charges have been announced yet related to the stabbing.

  • On Wednesday before 10:30 a.m., Brozoski McElrath dropped his father off at home.
  • Shortly after, Brozoski received a call that his father had been airlifted to the hospital after being stabbed.

The players

J.W. McElrath

An 80-year-old Vietnam veteran who is described as a beloved member of the Sylacauga community, known for sitting on his porch and waving to passersby.

Brozoski McElrath

The son of J.W. McElrath, who says his father is stable and recovering at a hospital in Birmingham after the attack.

Tashae Devay Whitson

A 34-year-old woman who was arrested at a nearby park and charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, though no charges have been announced yet related to the stabbing.

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What they’re saying

“By the time I went across town, I was getting a call from one of his nieces, and they were telling me something terrible had happened, and I need to get home right now because they were going to airlift him to Birmingham.”

— Brozoski McElrath, Son of J.W. McElrath

“He said that's when he went in the house and fell asleep, she was waking him up by stabbing him. She missed the heart by a smidgen of a second, and he had his lung punctured so they have a chest tube in him right now.”

— Brozoski McElrath, Son of J.W. McElrath

“People hollering pray for her. Yes, pray for her because she has a soul too. If you got somebody older, make sure that you're watching after them, and we need to do the community watch because we don't know.”

— Brozoski McElrath, Son of J.W. McElrath

What’s next

Police are continuing to investigate the incident and determine if any charges will be filed against Tashae Devay Whitson in relation to the stabbing of J.W. McElrath.

The takeaway

This tragic attack on a beloved community member highlights the need for greater elder safety and community support in Sylacauga. While the victim's son calls for forgiveness, it also underscores the importance of neighborhood watch programs and checking on older residents to prevent such senseless violence.