A Texas teenager, Benjamin Elliott, claimed he awoke to find his twin sister dying when he was 17. At the time, Elliott told investigators he believed he had been dreaming and sleepwalking.
His lawyers argued that a sleep-related condition explained his actions and that he did not intend to harm his sister. Prosecutors, however, disputed this explanation, asserting that Elliott acted deliberately.
What Happened That Night?
On 29 September 2021, Elliott called emergency services from his family's home in Katy, Texas. He then reported stabbing his 17-year-old twin sister, Meghan, in the neck.
During the 911 call, he told the operator, 'I thought it was a dream. I – I took my knife and I stabbed her ... Please ... I don't want her to die. I'm so sorry.'
Elliott told investigators he recalled the sensation of stabbing an object. When he turned on the bedroom light, he saw that Meghan was injured.
Paramedics arrived and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation; however, Meghan succumbed to her injuries. A subsequent autopsy determined that she had sustained two stab wounds.
This account differed from Elliott's initial statement to police, in which he claimed to have stabbed her once. He also said he tried to stop the bleeding with a pillow before calling for help. Both details later became important points of contention at trial.
Was He Sleepwalking?
Elliott's lawyers argued that he experienced parasomnia, a sleep disorder that may cause complex actions during sleep. Neurologist and sleep specialist Dr Jerald Simmons conducted two sleep studies and diagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea, identifying it as a potential trigger for sleepwalking. Simmons then testified that he believed the stabbing occurred during a non-REM parasomnia episode, without conscious intent.
The defence also presented previous sleepwalking incidents, including accounts from Elliott's older sister and a childhood friend. His lawyers argued that his emergency call and attempts to help Meghan supported his account.
However, prosecution expert Dr Mark Pressman disagreed. He argued that Elliott's recollection of the attack, handling of the knife, and rapid response afterwards were inconsistent with sleepwalking. Prosecutors maintained that Elliott intentionally stabbed Meghan twice and questioned his explanation for using a pillow.
Conviction Upheld on Appeal
Elliott's first-degree murder trial began on 18 February 2025. Six days later, the jury found him guilty of murder. Judge Danilo Lacayo sentenced him to 15 years in prison, although prosecutors had requested 40 years.
Elliott later maintained his innocence in a CBS News interview. He called the conviction a miscarriage of justice and described Meghan as an artist who appreciated beauty in the world.
'I remember hearing guilty, and I was completely shocked,' Elliott told CBS News. 'I feel like this has been a I don't know, a miscarriage of justice, I guess ... I am not guilty of murder for my sister Meghan Elliott.'
In September 2026, the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals upheld the conviction. It ruled that jurors could accept Pressman's testimony over the defence expert's assessment.
The court also found no abuse of discretion in denying a hearing on Elliott's motion for a new trial. Elliott is eligible for parole in 2032.
