A Strange Reason of Murder

Not a serial killer, But a killer who thought a strange reason to kill a 6 year old girl.

Lauren Belius

Lauren Belius was born on September 16, 2004 to John and Allison Belius. She also had a twin sister named Erica and a brother named Nolan. She liked participating in soccer, ballet, and Tae Kwan Do. Lauren was talented girl. She loved animals and she enjoyed singing and dancing. She was also known for having a great sense of humour. 

In the morning of July 19 2011, her mother's boyfriend, David Trebilcock, read The Lord's Prayer out loud to her and her sister while they laid in bed together in their Sherrill, New York, home. He did this because he said that he discovered Lauren was "the anti-Christ". He said that Lauren could tell his past, present, and future. He said that the little girl could read his mind. He claimed that Lauren would sometimes "talk in a weird voice", and that that was when he could tell "her evil side was coming out".

Crime

David said that when he was reading the Lord's Prayer to Lauren and Erica, he tried to make an odd face to get a response from Lauren's "evil side", but it did not work. David pulled out a knife and stabbed Lauren with it until she passed away. He then tried to take his own life with the same knife, but was not successful. Lauren's mother, Allison, awoke that morning to her daughter's screams for help. She rushed to their bedroom door only to find that she couldn't get inside as it was barricaded with a dresser.

Allison eventually forced herself inside of the room and saw that David was stabbing Lauren. She attempted to stop David while Lauren's sister and brother ran to the house of Bob Adams, a neighbor. Lauren's sister was six years old, the same age as Lauren. Her brother was nine years old. Another neighbor, Cathy Spoletini, heard the screams and rushed to help. She saw Allison run out of the house carrying Lauren. Cathy performed CPR on Lauren in an effort to save her life, but she was not able to. Lauren was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

David was taken into police custody. He told police about how he believed Lauren was the anti-Christ and that he had tried to kill himself afterwards. He stated that he was supposed to die on that day as well. He claimed that he was not crazy and he knew what he did was wrong. He also was aware that he would be punished for doing it. He said he viewed the children as being his own, and that he loves Lauren's twin sister, Erica. He said that he loved Lauren too, until he found out she was the anti-Christ.

A nurse recalled that David told her that he hadn't yet determined if Erica was also evil while he was at the hospital when Lauren was taken there. He also said that Lauren was his girlfriend's daughter, and then added, "At least she was my girlfriend until today." while laughing. He had stabbed Lauren twenty-four times. 

Trial

David was charged with second degree murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to twenty-five years. Because he was found to be mentally ill, he was sent to a secure mental health facility where he would be reevaluated after one year. Lauren's family was outraged.

As of last year, Trebilcock remained a patient at the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center in New Hampton, NY. No new update is available about him.