Ex-Con Stabbed His Father 23 Times in Tower Grove South, Police Say

An ex-con charged with murdering his father stabbed the older man 23 times during a brutal attack on Saturday in the Tower Grove South neighborhood, police say.

Officers found the body of William Kemple Sr. just about 5:35 p.m. inside the family's apartment in the 4200 block of Meramec Street, just east of Morganford Road.

The 54-year-old father's throat was cut, he had chest wounds and a shirt had been shoved in his mouth, according to court documents. A witness had spotted Kemple's son, 29-year-old William Kemple Jr., covered in blood after the attack, police say.

Officers arrested Kemple Jr. a short time later. He was carrying three knives, including the murder weapon, police say. Along with first-degree murder, the son has been charged with armed criminal action.

The younger Kemple has been in trouble for years. He was convicted of robbery in 2009. In 2015 he beat and choked his wife, pleading guilty in 2016 to domestic assault.

He also has trespassing convictions and was forbidden from entering casinos, court records show. He is being held without bond in the murder case.

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