Shreveport man faces five decades in prison after a Caddo Parish jury found him guilty of attacks just over a year ago that almost killed his mother and seriously wounded her boyfriend.
The seven-man, five-woman jury deliberated less than half an hour Wednesday, March 13, 2019, before returning unanimous guilty verdicts against Dustin Charles Eschenbach, 20. He was charged with aggravated battery and attempted second-degree murder in connection with the February 16, 2018 attacks. The trial began Monday, March 11, 2019, before District Judge Katherine Dorroh.
The jury determined that Eschenbach, armed with a knife, waited until his mother and her boyfriend returned home from dinner and shopping. When they entered the residence, Eschenbach stabbed his mother in the neck, head and body, causing life-threatening injuries from which she was not expected to recover. She required two surgeries following the attack. Her boyfriend intervened, and Eschenbach attacked him, causing serious bodily injury to him, as well. Eschenbach then fled the residence, but later was arrested by Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputies.
Eschenbach was prosecuted by Caddo Parish Assistant District Attorneys Nancy Berger-Schneider and Jason Waltman. He was defended by David McClatchey.
Eschenbach will return to court March 20, 2019, for a sentencing hearing.
He faces up to 10 years in prison with or without hard labor and a fine of up to $5,000 on the aggravated battery conviction and 10 to 50 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence following conviction on the charge of attempted second-degree murder.