Ava Castings booking photo (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office).
When police entered the Tennessee home of Damian Grant Castings, he reportedly had a large open wound in his chest from where he had been stabbed and told police he thought his 20-year-old daughter, Ava Helene Castings, was trying to kill him.
According to a criminal complaint and arrest affidavit, Ava Castings was arrested in Red Bank, Tennessee, on May 9 and now faces a charge of attempted murder. Though details of exactly what unfolded between the father and daughter duo were unclear, a police affidavit notes that the conflict kicked off that afternoon around 2:46 p.m.
Hamilton County police showed up to the home that afternoon and immediately found a wounded Damian Grant Castings in his bedroom.
“[At] which time he advised his daughter Ava Helene Castings became upset with him when he wouldn’t inform her where her child was,” police wrote. “Damian then stated while Ava was arguing with him inside his bedroom, she brandished a knife and stabbed him in the upper right chest area.”
Damian Castings told police he believed “Ava was trying to kill him and could have stabbed his heart or lungs.”
“I was able to observe a large wound to Damian’s upper right chest area while speaking with him,” wrote Red Bank detective Derek McCoy.
Police said when they spoke to Ava Castings outside of the home, she was read her Miranda rights and agreed to keep talking to the officers.
The arrest report stated only that she was “upset that Damian would not tell her where her child was and began arguing with him.”
“Ava stated during the argument she grabbed a knife and stabbed Damian with the weapon,” the affidavit states.
It is unclear whether Castings has retained an attorney. The status of the Ava Casting’s child was also unclear or if the child was ever in any danger.
A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Castings is being held on $500,000 bail at the Hamilton County Correctional Facility, public jail records show, and she will appear in court next on June 10.
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