A University of Hartford student accused of stabbing two classmates while they filmed a movie in a campus dorm Sunday, first told police he was not acting and was “curious what it would be like to stab someone” but later told police he was acting and his emotions got the best of him, a police report says.
Superior Court Judge Laura F. Baldini ordered Jake Wascher held on $1 million bail during an unusual arraignment hearing at Hartford Hospital on Monday afternoon. Wascher, 20, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of first degree assault, police said.
Officials would not say why Wascher was hospitalized. Police said he suffered minor scratches on his face from running through woodland and swamp to escape the crime scene but he was not physically harmed when he was taken into custody Sunday evening.
During a video interview with a Hartford police detective, Wascher first claimed he wasn’t acting at the time of the assault but then said he was “‘into his character'” and ‘my emotions got the best of me, and I acted a little to [sic] hard,'” according to a police report released Monday. Police said the students were re-enacting a scene from the 2004 movie “The Butterfly Effect.”
A 19-year-old University of Hartford student from South Windsor suffered wounds to his chest and back. He was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Monday afternoon, police said. A 21-year-old student from New Fairfield suffered a puncture wound to his chest and four to his back. Police on Monday afternoon said the 21-year-old student had been discharged from St. Francis Hospital.
Police received a 911 call at approximately 1:30 p.m. Sunday regarding a stabbing incident at the university, according to a police report. The caller told police dispatchers that a student stabbed two other students, and identified the suspect as Jake Wascher, who was wearing a blue jacket, reddish-colored flannel shirt and a gray T-shirt.
Responding officers found the two male victims suffering from multiple stab wounds, and they were immediately transported to St. Francis Hospital.
Officers canvassed the campus for Wascher before finding someone who met his description exiting a wooded area near campus. Wascher told approaching officers he would comply, and was immediately taken into custody. In the presence of officers, Wascher said he “‘left the scissors on the basketball court that I used to do it,'” according to a police report.
One unidentified witness told police that while filming the movie, Wascher was acting as the main character in the film while the 21-year-old directed. The witness told police Wascher stabbed the 21-year-old in the chest and in his arm with a knife. While stabbing the 21-year-old, the 19-year-old yelled for Wascher to stop. The witness told police Wascher then turned his attention to the 19-year-old and stabbed him in the chest and back, then threw the knife at him, the police report said.
Another unidentified witness told police that they were in the apartment cooking at the time of the stabbings. The witness told police they heard screaming from the 21-year-old’s bedroom and saw one person standing over him while he was being attacked with what was described as a six- to seven-inch kitchen knife with a white handle. The witness told police the knife was stuck into the 19-year-old’s chest.
A third unidentified witness told police they heard screaming coming from inside the dorm room and when they approached the 21-year-old’s room, Wascher ran out of the bedroom and out of the apartment. The witness told police both victims left the bedroom suffering stab wounds.
Police removed a kitchen knife with a white handle from a University of Hartford campus apartment, the police report said.
According to his Facebook profile, Wascher enrolled in the university’s Hartt School seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting. He previously attended California State University Fullerton.
Wascher’s attorney, Richard R. Brown, told the Courant that he requested a bond hearing at Wascher’s next court hearing, scheduled for April 15.
“I can say to the best of our knowledge he has no criminal history and the allegations against him are inconsistent with his demeanor both here and in California,” Brown said. “There was no big incident in the past.”
In a statement to the University of Hartford’s campus community Sunday night, President Gregory S. Woodward said he was “deeply saddened and troubled” to inform the community of the “isolated but serious incident” at the school.
“Although this was a contained and personal assault, I realize this act is extremely upsetting,” Woodward said. “Sadly, university and college campuses are not immune to the challenges that have become too common in society today.”
Woodward said support is available through the school’s Counseling and Psychological Services office, located at E. Clayton Gengras Family Student Union (GSU), room 313. The office is open between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments can be made by calling 860-768-4482.
“I urge each and every one of you to show care, look out for and pay attention to one other, and to stay alert to what’s going on with those around us,” Woodward said. “Reach out to seek help or guidance, and find words and deeds that bring us closer together.”
Jeff Burda, Counseling and Psychological Services director, is also available for classroom and department visits.
Mikaela Porter can be reached at mmporter@courant.com.
