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Edgewood Teenager Kills Own Father While Defending Uncle

Edgewood Teenager Kills Father

First Posted: 09/05/11 02:11 PM ET Updated: 11/05/11 06:12 AM ET

A 47-year-old was stabbed to death by his teenage son on Saturday in Edgewood, Washington, after getting into a fight with his brother, according to local media reports.

Ralph Paputsakis apparently attacked his 46-year-old brother with a crowbar until his 17-year-old son intervened. The teenager didn't even know who the man was, according to the family, as Paputsakis was not active in his life. He was stabbed multiple times with a knife.

"We've all been crying all night long and it's the hardest thing I ever had to go through," the teen's sister, Heather Flores, told KING 5 News. "What my brother did to him, he didn't know it was our dad. He didn't know it. When he saw him, he just freaked out."

According to MyNorthwest, the brother of the man killed suffered head wounds and was taken to the local hospital for evaluation.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Department said the case remains under investigation; it's not yet known if any charges will be filed.

"At this point we don't have probable cause. It appears that the boy was trying to protect his uncle," Sheriff's Department spokesman Sgt. Michael Blair told The News Tribune.

Edgewood is a small city just outside Tacoma, Washington, with a population of about 10,000.

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Jennifer Zirn
Agree to disagree.
04:34 PM on 09/07/2011
It is sad that the boy was put in this position. The guy bviously had nothing to do with his family including his brother. It is a sad state of affairs, hopefully the boy will be able to work through it, but I'm sure it is going to take years. Hopefully charges will not be brought against the kid as he was protecting the family he knew.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
dvsinla
06:32 AM on 09/07/2011
that's a doozy... kid's gonna be messed up for a while
02:44 AM on 09/07/2011
Kid is lucky, some places he would still be charged, even for protecting someone.
muckatuck
yeah, well, you know, thats just like uh, your opi
06:00 PM on 09/06/2011
those of you so quick to judge out there probabaly would've done the same thing if some unknown person was attacking one of your loved ones.you never know what you would be capable of until put in that position.there but for the grace of god go us all.
04:29 PM on 09/06/2011
Unfortunately this boy killed his own father, BUT more than likely he did save his uncle's life. I hope that no charges are filed.
03:42 PM on 09/06/2011
Feel so sorry the kid was put in that position - he was only defending his uncle - sounds like it's the dad's fault. Hope there are no charges against the boy.
03:36 PM on 09/06/2011
I don't even think "oh you silly kid" applys to this one! Wow talk about not knowing who your father is! Unbelievable! And so violent! Wow!
This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]
03:03 PM on 09/06/2011
This is why you should be in your children's life. He killed his unknown father who was a stranger to protect his beloved uncle. 17 years into his life and he didn't have a clue who this person was. Maybe if he had introduced himself to his son at some point before then, the son would have approached it differently and just broke up the fight. Or maybe it would have happened anyway if he had known that was his father, being upset of his absence, after his uncle took care of him. Anyway sad that he has to face charges trying to defend someone he knew.
03:14 PM on 09/06/2011
this is why marriage was made for a man and a woman
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
03:57 PM on 09/06/2011
Read a few of the comments on these pages. When you have learned to create a defensible thought, try again.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Jennifer Zirn
Agree to disagree.
04:36 PM on 09/07/2011
The father was absent from the child's life, what does a marriage between a man and woman have anything to do with it?
03:01 PM on 09/06/2011
I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. Tired of not ever having me a buddy to be with, or tell me where we's coming from or going to, or why. Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time. Can you understand?

john coffey-the green mile
02:58 PM on 09/06/2011
he didnt know it was his father, did i read this correct?
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madenusa
Troll Patrol
08:00 PM on 09/06/2011
Yes it was his father, but the article was written so bad it was difficult to make much sense without rereading.
11:09 PM on 09/06/2011
Tell me about it!
This terribly written article must have been authored by an "Affirmative Action" case!
05:41 PM on 09/07/2011
we live in a broken world unfortunately
02:52 PM on 09/06/2011
This however sounds like it's a case of abandonmen­t, not estrangeme­nt. This kid didn't even know it was his father. It says he didn't even know who the man was. So it wasn't a personal attack Watch - http://goo.gl/a0xhd
02:23 PM on 09/06/2011
This is a very sad story, I hope the teen gets counseling not jail. He was trying to defend his family. Must be very upsetting to know you killed your father and didn't even know it was him.
02:02 PM on 09/06/2011
This is such a sad story, I am sorry I read it. Obviously a dysfunctional father returned to his brother's home after many years to do harm. Now a man has been attacked by his brother who is dead and his nephew has to live with the fact he killed his father--even though to me it sounds justifiable. Hope that young man gets counseling to deal with all the issues this may cause in psychologically.
01:22 PM on 09/06/2011
Sounds like SusieQTX is the only one who read the story... It says he was Not active in their lives.