Man allegedly tried to electrocute his father after learning he would be sole beneficiary of his will

A Florida man attempted to electrocute his father when the son found out he would be the sole beneficiary of the elder man's will, police said.

John Knudsen, 44, was arrested on Thursday and charged with felony attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault on an elderly disabled person after police say he tried to electrocute his 81-year-old father, also named John Knudsen, at their Ormond Beach home. The father and son got into a heated argument on Nov. 22, the father telling the son that he needed to find a job.



Days later the father told his son that his will and deed would go to him upon his death. Early on Thanksgiving morning, the son was holding two black wires which he pressed to his fathers chest. The father passed out. When the father awoke he attempted to talk to his son but he eventually went to his bedroom. The father then grabbed his revolver to protect himself, police said.

After a while the father was able to sneak out of the house and head to the Ormond Beach Police Department. The father had a bruise on the top right side of his head and told police his son knew of his weak heart condition. Officers responded to the house and attempted to find out what happened but the son was uncooperative. The younger Knudsen, who has no criminal history in Volusia County, is being held Monday at the Volusia County Branch Jail on $70,000 bail.