WARSAW — Officials with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department released more information regarding the recent stabbing homicide today, Oct. 27, during a press conference. The crime occurred on Monday, Oct. 23, when Derrick L. Wandrick, 23, Harvey, Ill., fatally stabbed David L. Strowder Jr., 21, Elkhart, 63 times.

During the conference, Detective Todd Sautter announced that no motive for the murder has been released at this point. “I’m not going to speculate on a motive at this time. We still have some individuals we are talking to. Currently, as we speak, we’ve got detectives doing further investigation right now and further interviews to try and determine a motive. We have some ideas, but I’m not going to speculate until we have evidence.”

Sautter did confirm that there was a family connection between the suspect and the victim, but did not specify what that connection was.

Evidence found throughout the investigation so far include bloody clothing, the victim’s vehicle with blood inside of it and a kitchen knife suspected to be the murder weapon.

The fact that the victim was stabbed 63 times was discussed multiple times during the conference. “In my twenty plus years in law enforcement, that’s probably the most I’ve ever seen,” commented Sautter.

Coroner Tony Ciriello also commented on the violent nature of the stabbing. “It is pretty violent. This was the most violent in injuries of any of those homicides I’ve been involved with.”

Ciriello continued by saying, “Usually stab wounds, especially when you get this many, are personal and they are a random thing. So it tells us the attack was probably some type of personal matter.”

After the press conference, Wandrick appeared in Kosciusko County Circuit Court for his initial hearing. He was read the formal charge of felony murder. Scott Lennox was appointed as his lawyer. Wandrick faces anywhere between 45 and 65 years of incarceration for the charge of murder.

At this time, a not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf.