The suspect in the New York Hanukkah celebration stabbings has 'long history of mental illness,' family says(CNN)The man accused of barging into a rabbi's Monsey, New York, home and stabbing five people at a Hanukkah party has a "long history of mental illness and hospitalizations," according to a family statement issued by his attorney.
Grafton Thomas was arrested about an hour after the attack when a license plate reader captured his Nissan Sentra's tag as he was crossing the George Washington Bridge into New York City, authorities said. He smelled strongly of bleach and had blood on his clothes, Rockland County Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic said.
"We believe the actions of which he is accused, if committed by him, tragically reflect profound mental illness for which ... Grafton has received episodic treatment before being released," according to his family's statement.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/30/us/monsey-stabbing-suspect-grafton-thomas/index.html
