North Huntingdon man arrested on charges of stabbing woman

A North Huntingdon man was charged early Saturday with attempted homicide for allegedly stabbing a woman twice in the chest and once in the neck, township police said.

Joshua Gene Gartland, 33, of 460 Clay Pike is being held at the Westmoreland County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond while he awaits a preliminary hearing tentatively set for Wednesday before District Judge Doug Weimer.

Gartland allegedly stabbed Laura O'Rourke with a 12-inch kitchen knife around 1:27 a.m. Saturday in a downstairs room in his home, according to the criminal complaint.

O'Rourke's husband, James O'Rourke, ran downstairs and saw Gartland on top of the woman and stabbing her, the complaint states.

Police described Gartland as James O'Rourke's stepson but did not specify Gartland's relationship to Laura O'Rourke or a motive. A phone directory lists the address as the O'Rourkes' home.

A message left at the home Monday afternoon was not returned.

Police said Laura O'Rourke was flown to UPMC Presbyterian hospital. A hospital spokeswoman said yesterday she had no information about O'Rourke's condition.

Gartland is accused of punching James O'Rourke in the mouth with the knife handle and attempting to stab him in the stomach.

Other charges against Gartland include aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.