Gary Sherrill allegedly killed his 13-year-old son with an axe (Picture: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)

A father has told police he killed his teenage son with an axe on New Year’s Eve because he thought he was a demon.

Gary Sherrill, 51, from Phoenix, Arizona, had shared custody of 13-year-old David and when he was not returned home on time the boy’s mother rang police.

When officers arrived at Sherrill’s apartment at roughly 3:45pm on Tuesday he told them the boy was not there, but eventually allowed them in to talk further.

Police say they then found the teenager’s body covered in stab wounds and lacerations.


According to local news station ABC15 Sherrill is alleged to have admitted to the killing, apparently defending his actions by saying he was scared of his son, who he believed to be a demon that was going to eat him.



Neighbours claim they had seen Sherrill acting strangely recently.

‘He had been screaming at a tree the other day,’ said Davina West.

He is now being held on first degree murder charges.