Mich. man allegedly stabbed Grindr date over 50 times, wrote Bible verse on wall near his body

GREEN BAY, Wis. (TCD) -- A 23-year-old Michigan man has been charged with allegedly fatally stabbing a 65-year-old man he met on a dating app as well as another person in Alabama.

On Aug. 2, Green Bay Police went to a residence at 1320 Packerland Drive for a welfare check and found a deceased individual. He was later identified as Patrick Ernst.

Police learned Ernst’s 2013 Ford Fiesta was missing and identified Caleb Anderson as the suspect believed to be driving the car. Anderson was arrested Aug. 3 by the Helena Police Department in Alabama and U.S. Marshals Service. AL.com reports that while in Alabama, Anderson allegedly killed 52-year-old Dwight Dixon, and he was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree burglary in connection with his death.

According to a statement, the Helena Police Department was conducting a service training at city hall when officers learned Anderson was in the city. The department said "everyone immediately hit the street" and he was "greeted by over 20 HPD officers, some on duty and some off duty."

Prior to allegedly killing Ernst and Dixon, Anderson also allegedly attacked a woman in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, WLUC-TV reports. On Aug. 1, Aurora Dahl reportedly went on a run at about 6 a.m. when Anderson came running up behind her holding duct tape and attacked her for 10 minutes. She managed to defend herself and ran away to safety.

On Nov. 18, Anderson was charged in Brown County, Wisconsin, with first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly killing Ernst. He is reportedly still in custody in Alabama.

According to court documents cited by WBAY-TV, Anderson met Ernst on the dating app Grindr, and used that instead of Tinder "but that had a lot of women on it, and it would have taken a lot longer."

He reportedly said he "didn’t want to kill women" even though he thought about it. Anderson allegedly chose Grindr because "it was only the convenience of the app" and added that the Grindr app "helped him by providing the men’s locations."

Ernst reportedly suffered 38 stab wounds to the upper body, three to the stomach, and many more on his hands, which appeared to be defensive wounds. He was reportedly stabbed 51 times.

Police allegedly found a green knife on Ernst’s floor and a note that read, "I am sorry and he didn’t deserve this."

Near Ernst’s body, Anderson allegedly wrote the date of the suspected murder on the wall as well as, "Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

Police reportedly discovered a burner phone with a video on it allegedly showing Anderson alongside Ernst’s body as well as pictures from the scene.

WLUK-TV, which also cites the arrest report, says Anderson told police he "always just wanted to kill somebody."

MORE:

• Suspicious Death at 1320 Packerland Dr. is being investigated as a Homicide, 8/2/2022 - Green Bay Police Department
• UPDATE TO PACKERLAND DRIVE HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION, 8/15/2022 - Green Bay Police Department
• Update: Caleb Anderson Faces Charge of First-Degree Intentional Homicide; Death of 65-Year-Old Patrick Ernst - Green Bay Police Department
• Helena Police Department Facebook
• Man charged in Green Bay, Alabama killings found victims on dating app - WBAY
• Wisconsin murder suspect charged in slaying of Alabama man; ALEA says evidence found linking him to both killings, 8/5/2022 - AL.com
• Iron County assault victim shares story of survival, message for young women, 8/12/2022 - WLUC
• Disturbing details released as man charged with Green Bay homicide - WLUL