The step-granddaughter of actor Morgan Freeman was stabbed to death in New York City early Sunday in what law enforcement and witnesses are calling a possible exorcism attempt.
“‘Get out, devils! I cast you out, devils! In the name of Jesus Christ, I cast you out!'” the suspect screamed as he plunged a hunting knife repeatedly into her body, according to witness George Hudacko, speaking to the New York Post.
Another witness, 28-year-old Brydon Tarafa, told the DailyMail: “I heard the man yelling ‘Jesus Christ is born’, like yelling, screaming maniacally. And I heard a woman scream shortly before that.”
At the end of the onslaught on the Manhattan sidewalk, E’Dena Hines, 33, lay dead, having been stabbed 16 times, allegedly by her live-in boyfriend, 30-year-old Lamar Davenport, who was apprehended at the scene and taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
“The girl was making a lot of noise, screaming,” Hudacko told the Post. “I saw something sparkly going up and down. … I called 911, I was begging them to come.”
Police say Hines – whose grandmother, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, was Freeman’s first wife – was slaughtered in front of West 162 Street near St. Nicholas Avenue just before 3 a.m.
A source in local law enforcement told the Post the attacker may have been in a cocaine-fueled psychosis, and was so crazed that he continued his assault even after her body went lifeless. Officers reportedly had to wrestle Davenport off of the victim.
“When the police arrived he was still making a stabbing motion with his arm but he had nothing in his fist. The knife was jutting out of her chest,” according to the source.
Within hours of the attack, Freeman, best known for his roles in films including “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Bruce Almighty,” issued a public statement on the slaying, saying: “The world will never know her artistry in talent, and how much she had to offer.
“Her friends and family were fortunate enough to have known what she meant as a person. Her star will continue to shine bright in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace.”
Although Freeman was not related to Hines by blood, the actor adopted Hines’ mother, and he called the young actress his granddaughter. Hines often accompanied Freeman to red-carpet events.
Perhaps because he was seen so often with her in public, Freeman in 2012 publicly squashed false news stories that claimed the two were romantically involved.
Hines played Beneatha in “A Raisin in the Sun” on Broadway, and just two weeks ago, she finished filming “Landing Up,” a movie about two young homeless women surviving on the streets of the Big Apple.
“We’re devastated. She was an amazing incredible, loving human being,” the film’s director, Daniel Tenenbaum told the Post.
“She really touched every single person on set, crew and cast, and was such a vivid part of this whole experience. She was here, she was in our office a couple days ago and we sat and talked and filmed her.”
Her alleged killer remained at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation Sunday night.
