Maine State Police have arrested a Vermont man who they say plunged a knife into the back of his female cousin’s grandson, her daughter’s chest and her husband’s hand at their home in Lebanon on Christmas night before he was hit on the head with a frying pan and then pinned down while the victims waited for help to arrive.

Police said they arrived at roughly 9:45 p.m. Friday at the home, on West Lebanon Road, and found Alton Britch, 44, of Wheelock, Vermont, being held down on the floor by the home’s residents.

Alton Britch

An investigation revealed that Britch had arrived unexpectedly at the home of his cousin, Beverly Duquette, 58, and was confronted by her 18-year-old grandson, Dominic Small, whom he stabbed in the back three times, police said. Britch then stabbed Duquette’s 39-year-old daughter, Anna Malinowski, in the chest, they said. He also stabbed Duquette’s husband, Randall Duquette, 54, in the hand, according to police.

The family had not been in contact with Britch for about two years, according to police. All three victims live in the home. They were transported to Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire, with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. The knife was recovered at the scene.

During the struggle in the home, Britch was struck on the head with a frying pan in order to stop his attacks, police said. He was transported to Southern Maine Healthcare in Sanford for treatment and then booked into the York County Jail on a charge of elevated aggravated assault.

Britch’s bail was set at $100,000. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in Springvale District Court on Monday. State police said the North Berwick Police Department assisted at the scene.

Police said Britch’s motive in the stabbings was unclear.

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