A 27-year-old man is behind bars in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, after police say he fatally stabbed an 82-year-old woman inside her home and told officers that "they all have to die" when confronted about the killing.

Esteban Villegas faces charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault in the death of Lorraine Dushensky, who was found dead from multiple stab wounds at a residence on the 200 block of South Prince Street in Lancaster city on the evening of June 23, 2025.

What police found inside the home

Lancaster city police responded to the South Prince Street address around 7:30 p.m. on June 23 after receiving a report of a stabbing, WGAL reported. Officers arrived to find Dushensky suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators identified Villegas as the suspect. Police said he was located and taken into custody without incident. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact relationship between Villegas and Dushensky, or whether he had any prior connection to the residence.

The Lancaster County Coroner's Office ruled Dushensky's death a homicide. Her cause of death was listed as multiple stab wounds. The case drew immediate attention in the community given the victim's age and the disturbing statements police attributed to the suspect.

A chilling statement to officers

The most alarming detail to emerge from the arrest came from Villegas himself. Police said that when officers confronted him about the killing, he made a statement that went beyond any claim of self-defense or accident. Lancaster police said Villegas told them:

"They all have to die."

That five-word statement, attributed to Villegas by police, raises serious questions about motive and whether investigators believe other people may have been at risk. Authorities have not publicly said whether Villegas made additional threats or whether police believe he targeted or intended to target anyone beyond Dushensky.

Violent attacks on elderly victims have become a persistent concern for communities across the country. In a separate case in New York City, a teenage son discovered his mother dead inside their home with her throat slashed, underscoring the brutal nature of knife attacks that continue to shake neighborhoods.

Charges and legal posture

Villegas has been charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault. Under Pennsylvania law, criminal homicide is the umbrella charge that encompasses first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree murder, and voluntary manslaughter. Prosecutors can later specify the degree of the charge based on the evidence gathered during the investigation.

He is being held without bail at Lancaster County Prison. No attorney for Villegas has been publicly identified. Investigators will need to determine whether the alleged statement to police constitutes evidence of premeditation, and whether Villegas had any prior criminal history or documented mental health issues that factored into the attack.

The case bears some resemblance to other recent stabbing homicides that have drawn national attention. In Los Angeles, veteran actor James Handy, 81, was stabbed to death at his home, with his girlfriend's son arrested on a murder charge in that case.

An 82-year-old victim

Lorraine Dushensky was 82 years old. Beyond her age and the address where she was found, authorities have released limited public information about her. Investigators have not disclosed whether she lived alone, whether other people were present in the home at the time of the attack, or whether she had any known connection to Villegas.

The stabbing death of an elderly woman inside her own home strikes at one of the most fundamental expectations of civil society: that vulnerable people should be safe where they live. Lancaster is a mid-sized city with a population of roughly 60,000, and violent crime against the elderly tends to generate intense community concern.

Pennsylvania has seen its share of violent criminal cases in recent months. In another part of the state, a woman was charged with murder after a newborn was found dead in a rural field, a case that also resulted in criminal homicide charges.

What investigators must still determine

Several critical questions remain unanswered in the public record. Authorities have not said what weapon was used or whether it was recovered at the scene. Police have not disclosed what led them to identify Villegas as the suspect, or how quickly after the stabbing he was located.

The alleged statement that "they all have to die" raises the question of whether Villegas posed a broader threat. Investigators have not publicly confirmed whether they believe anyone else was in danger, or whether the plural "they" referred to a specific group of people. That determination could shape how prosecutors ultimately classify the homicide charge.

Forensic evidence, witness statements, and any surveillance footage from the area will likely play a role in building the prosecution's case. The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office has not released a timeline for a preliminary hearing.

Knife attacks continue to generate alarm across the country. In California, Santa Ana police fatally shot a 16-year-old boy after an alleged stabbing, a case that highlighted the deadly consequences of blade violence and the split-second decisions law enforcement must make in response.

A community left with hard questions

Lancaster city police have not indicated whether they are seeking additional suspects or witnesses. The investigation appears focused on Villegas as the sole suspect. His next court appearance has not been publicly announced.

For residents of the South Prince Street neighborhood, the reality is stark: an 82-year-old woman is dead, allegedly killed with a knife inside her home, and the man police arrested told them everyone has to die. Whether that statement reflects a calculated intent or something else entirely is now a matter for the courts.

When a suspect tells police "they all have to die" and an elderly woman lies dead from stab wounds, the justice system has one job: make sure the answer is accountability, not excuses.