Stepsister Drove From PA To Attack 61-Year-Old Stepbrother With Sledgehammer, Knife: Police

ELLENVILLE, NY — A long drive didn't help a Pennsylvania woman calm down prior to an early morning attack on her stepbrother at her parents' Hudson Valley home.

The Ellenville Police Department says that officers responded to a serious assault that took place on Westwood Ave., in the Village of Ellenville, around 4:42 a.m. on Tuesday.

Once at the scene, police found a victim covered in blood. He was taken to Ellenville Regional Hospital by the Ellenville Rescue Squad.

Investigators say the suspect in the attack, identified as 28-year-old Sara R. Levine, had driven from her Lakeville, Pennsylvania home to her parents' house in Ellenville early Tuesday morning.

She then reportedly got out of her car and punctured all the tires on the victim's 2024 truck, and then used the weapon to make deep cuts in the paint of the entire vehicle, according to police.

Police say that Levine then entered the house, armed with a knife and a sledgehammer, in search of the 61-year-old victim, who is Levine's stepbrother.

The victim woke up from the noise and came out from a bedroom to investigate when he was confronted by his stepsister who then stabbed him in the upper shoulder/neck area, and then hit him with the sledgehammer, police say.

The parents then woke up from all the commotion and called 911 for help.

Ellenville police were assisted by the Ulster County DA's Office, and the Ulster County Sheriff's Department Uniform and Detective Division. The scene was processed by Crime Scene Tech investigators.

Levine was charged with felony first-degree burglary, felony second-degree assault, felony third-degree criminal mischief, and misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. She was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday afternoon.

Police say the victim's injuries were declared to be non-life-threatening by hospital staff.