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Madeleine Baran
St. Paul, Minn.

St. Paul man pleads guilty in fatal stabbing

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A St. Paul man with a history of domestic violence pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend.

Phillip Eugene Elphage faces a sentence of more than 34 years in prison for the Jan. 30 stabbing death of Darius Derrick Maxwell, 17.

Elphage, 19, admitted that he broke into the St. Paul home of his ex-girlfriend, assaulted her, and stabbed her Maxwell, her new boyfriend, with a steak knife. He also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary involving an assault.

Prior to the incident, the former girlfriend had filed an Order for Protection against Elphage.

The woman told police that Elphage left her a voicemail message earlier that night saying something like, "I don't know who this guy is, but when I find out, it's going to be something vicious," according to the criminal complaint.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said the case was particularly disturbing, given Elphage's pattern of abuse.

"These were unspeakably violent crimes in violation of a court Order for Protection," said Gaertner. "The resolution of this case should send a clear message that domestic violence will be prosecuted vigorously."

Elphage will be sentenced July 2.