One Dead, One Injured in Highland Park Stabbing

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Update 10:28 a.m.:

Sgt. Lance Koppa said the victims have been identified as John Rodman Steele and Dina Steele. Both were transported to Baylor Hospital, where John Steele was pronounced dead and Dina Steele is in stable condition.

Koppa said the Steele’s children, ages 12 and 16, were inside the home at the time of the incident. The children were not injured and are with a family member.

There were two calls to HP dispatch, the first was a male voice with audible commotion, then disconnected for an unknown reason. The next came from a female voice as officers arrived on scene. The victim stated there had been a stabbing and they had been stabbed.

Dallas County is helping process the crime scene as Koppa said there is a large amount of evidence in the home. The weapon has not been determined yet.

Anthony McClure, a friend and member of the Steele’s monthly prayer group, said the family was a part of Highland Park United Methodist Church and a strong Christian backing. McClure said the incident doesn’t add up as they were a very loving couple who had a wonderful family and were actively involved in the community and church.

“None of this makes sense at all,” McClure said.

According to Park Cities People archives, Dina and John were married at HPUMC on June 7, 1986.

Koppa said previously the only call at the Steele residence was for a noise complaint a few months ago.

Original Post:

Early Wednesday morning, a man was killed and a woman left in stable condition after a stabbing at an HP home in the 3200 block of Cornell Avenue.

Sgt. Lance Koppa, a spokesman for Highland Park, said HP dispatch received a brief call from the home at 4:18 a.m., but the call was disconnected.  Officers were then dispatched and found the the two victims inside the house.

Koppa said based on what officers found out at the scene, the incident was concentrated inside the home.  They are not actively seeking out any suspects outside of the ones at the scene and inside the house.

The man was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. The woman is still in stable condition.

Koppa said this is the first homicide in HP since October of 2001.

We’ll keep you updated.

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39 thoughts on “One Dead, One Injured in Highland Park Stabbing

  • July 11, 2012 at 9:24 am
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    “The woman is still in strange condition.”

    I’m sure the doctors can handle it.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 9:33 am
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    Depending on how strange her condition is, she may or may not recover.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 9:59 am
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    Yes. She is in “stable” condition.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 10:18 am
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    God bless the Steele family.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 10:38 am
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    According to WFAA, Dina Steele is suffering from hand wounds. I hope her hands end up being OK.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 11:08 am
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    As you people comment on this tragedy, please be respectful. I didn’t know John or their son, but Dina is a wonderful woman and their daughter is a friend of my daughter’s. Whatever occurred, this is a horrible event that deserves grace and mercy for all involved.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 12:23 pm
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    People are quick to judge. I think we’ll find this is not a homicide. Prayers for the family.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 12:47 pm
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    Information through the church indicates it will be ruled a suicide which makes the entire episode even more unbelievably bizarre. Such a fine family and, yes, lots of prayers.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 12:49 pm
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    Regardless of the circumstances, what a horrible tragedy for their children. WFAA website updated about an hour ago and said the police are “not looking for any suspects”, so unfortunately, it does appear that Mr. Steele’s death is a homicide. I certainly hope there are extenuating circumstances like self defense involved so that these children haven’t lost both parents.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 12:58 pm
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    How is being stabbed in the chest not a homicide? The only two choices are either stabbed to death by his wife or one of the kids(police are not searching for a suspect outside of the home) or suicide by stabbing himself in the chest. I just can’t see someone have the strength or willpower to stab himself like that but I guess it’s possible.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 1:04 pm
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    Rod and Dina Steele are the two finest people I’ve ever met. Dina is an extremely strong Christian woman, the very example of grace. No idea what Rod was going through, but may he rest in peace.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 1:07 pm
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    I would be speculating as to the full circumstances of this horrible event and assume the authorities will fully investigate all aspects. My prayers are for all involved, including 2 young people whose lives have been forever changed by a few minutes or even seconds of violence in the wee hours of the morning.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 1:07 pm
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    Not a homicide=suicide

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  • July 11, 2012 at 1:37 pm
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    Meredith, well said. Our prayers are with the family, regardless of what happened.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 2:09 pm
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    Is this Dina Steele the plaintiff attorney? If so, while awful, karma is b….

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  • July 11, 2012 at 2:14 pm
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    I’m with Meredith. Prayers for the family are what’s needed.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 2:24 pm
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    I do not know this family.

    But, I do know that domestic violence is not something that only happens in poor homes. It is a tragic something that happens in many homes, regardless of income, regardless of church attendance and regardless of how wonderful familes appear outside of their own families.

    As someone who came from an upper middle class, conservative, educated and very religious family who was active in the community and the church…..I can say that you never know what goes on in families on the inside.

    Sometimes the outside view is accurate and other times it is a total illusion.

    Reply
  • July 11, 2012 at 3:22 pm
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    @HipUPDad: If your karma theory is right, you’re about to get run over by a bus. Keep us posted!

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  • July 11, 2012 at 3:47 pm
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    Totally agree with Neal…

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  • July 11, 2012 at 3:51 pm
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    @HipUPDad @Neal, As far as we can tell that is not the same Dina Steele. The attorney is Dina K. Steele, while the Highland Park resident is Dina D. Steele.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 4:14 pm
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    @Neal – Thanks, I’ll keep an eye out, and if I trip over your Obama yard sign Dina K. and I are suing!
    @Claire – thanks for the clarification.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 4:48 pm
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    Hold on there, @HipUPdud (oops, I mean “dad”)- don’t make this a Democrat/Republican thing. I’m about as conservative as they get and I also think your karma comment was pretty sleazy.

    Reply
  • July 11, 2012 at 5:15 pm
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    Based on some of the online comments here and elsewhere, one starts to wonder how well Park Cities residents really know each other.

    Those property gates are a lot taller and thicker now than they were a generation ago.

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  • July 11, 2012 at 5:59 pm
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    I think we can all agree this is a horrible tragedy and it’s about time the stupid news vans with their satellite dishes get out of our neighborhood. I appreciate PCP reporting on this story and always knowing what is up in the Park Cities but I personally don’t want all the strange news vans from downtown circling like vultures anymore. Park Cities People ought to be the only media crew allowed in town limits.

    Reply
  • July 11, 2012 at 11:28 pm
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    @hipUPdad. This is why people like you are relegated to UP. Bunch of ignorant trash. Stay off my lawn loser. Something awful will [hopefully] happen to you soon.

    Thoughts and prayers are with the Steele family.

    Reply
  • July 12, 2012 at 1:52 am
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    No accountability anymore. This is why many of us, especially under the current circumstance, have to apologize for our success. This is horrible in the extreme….the children will struggle to recover and may never do so. I pray for them and wish them the best. But if you believe in the rule of law, a sense of civility, and anything remotley resembling Christianity, then attempted murder on your wife is unacceptable. There is no debate. Why the reserving judgment?? If the facts as they are known now are true…then there is no judgment to be reserved…evil. We would all think the same of the man in Arlington, Oak Cliff, Carrollton, etc…

    Reply
  • July 12, 2012 at 8:21 am
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    @Hipper,

    Really? So you are going to label UP residents as “ignorant trash”, hope that something bad happens to him, and then try to be religious and say your thoughts and prayers are with the family?

    I certainly think hipUPdad crossed the line, but so did you.

    Reply
  • July 12, 2012 at 8:25 am
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    Hipper HP Dad, while I agree with your disdain for hipUPdad’s comment the rest of your response is obnoxious, pompous and certainly doesn’t sound Christian.

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  • July 12, 2012 at 9:27 am
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    Just want to make sure that it is clear that I am NOT HipUpDad (indeed, I am not hip, and I certainly hope I’m a bit more respectful). And I’m sure glad I’m not “hipper” HP Dad either!

    Reply
  • July 12, 2012 at 10:06 am
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    @HipDads, Both of you are beyond obnoxious. This has nothing to do with politics, nothing to do with money, and nothing to do with zip codes; get over yourselves.

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  • July 12, 2012 at 3:37 pm
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    Please people, forget about yourselves for once! It’s not all about you.

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  • July 12, 2012 at 4:27 pm
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    Please be aware we have not had in HP a murder since 2001 and we still have not. This WAS NOT a murder and it makes a big difference.

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  • July 12, 2012 at 10:01 pm
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    I can’t believe that you all are bantering over politics and harmful wishes upon one another. Two children has lost a parent, that’s permanent. Your political candidates and yard signs will come and go, Grow up and lets stay focused on this revered family and the loss they have suffered. Rod and Dina are two of the most faithful people I have ever met. Watching them stand up and help guide our kids through finding their own faith and purpose in this world, well I am not sure how many of you have been that committed on any one task. May god be with all of us and grant us the strength as a community to get ourselves and this family through this horrible event.

    Reply
  • July 13, 2012 at 12:30 am
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    I went to SMU back in the 80’s and everyone was treated the same regardless of their race, religion, parent’s income or where you lived. It’s time we got back to the way it was back.then. Highland Park is still a part of Dallas, Texas and Dallas County. It’s time we stop the us versus them attitude. Do we really need to live up to that tv show starring Kristin Chenowith (I don’t even know the name of it cause it’s not worth remembering.). What we really need to focus on is a family has been changed forever and are going to have a hard time getting over this (emotionally especially) and no amount of money is going to make it easier or make what happened go away. If your jealous because they have lots of money and you don’t, look at your family. Realize that family is what matters–not money. Money is not going to bring back her husband/their father. Money is not going to take away the emotional scars that will take time to heal. And how does gossip and speculating as to what happened help The Steele Family or anyone? Let the police do their investigating. And let The Steele family have some privacy to grieve.

    Reply
  • July 13, 2012 at 3:35 pm
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    I wish people would stop using the word “christian” as if it somehow innately means “good”.

    Ever notice how often in the wake of tragedies of this sort the neighbors state “they were such good christians!” They taught SUNDAY SCHOOL… They went to BIBLE STUDY…

    Maybe tragedies like this have their deep origins in the GUILT that is the poison in all this look-over-your-shoulder sort of peer-pressure christianity.

    No one needs this fairy tale to be “good”. Psychologically it’s healthier not to feel your actions are constantly watched and judged.

    I wonder if there’s anything in this tragedy with this sort of explanation.

    Reply
  • July 15, 2012 at 9:29 am
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    There was a statement that he had begun taking a sleep medication recently. If that is true, then it’s possible that he committed all of these actions in a dream state. That could explain the incongruity of his actions and the ability to kill himself with a knife.
    Very sad for all involved.

    Reply
  • July 15, 2012 at 11:00 pm
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    Obviously neurological. No one is responsible. If a rare psychotic side-effect of ambien, it needs to be taken off the market. There are psychotic side-effects of some prescription drugs. Could be Huntington’s Disease or an early form of some kind of dementia. It’s a tragedy, but it’s not anyone’s fault. Treat the family with respect.

    Reply

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