Pa. Doctor Accused of Trying to Kill Son-in-Law - East Idaho News
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Pa. Doctor Accused of Trying to Kill Son-in-Law

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GETTY 91213 PryBar?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1379000242242iStockphoto/Thinkstock(CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio) — A Pennsylvania doctor faces attempted murder and other charges for allegedly attacking his neurosurgeon son-in-law outside his Ohio home with a pry bar.

Dr. Georges Bensimhon, 66, is also facing felony assault and kidnapping charges after police say he drove six hours through the night from his upscale neighborhood in Allentown and attacked his son-in-law, Dr. Alan Hoffer, on Sept. 4, outside his Cleveland Heights home.

Bensimhon was allegedly hiding outside of Hoffer’s home just before 6 a.m. when the attack occurred, according to police.  As Hoffer walked toward his car, police say, Bensimhon jumped out of the bushes wearing a black ski mask and blue surgical gloves and attacked Hoffer from behind with a pry bar.

Bleeding after repeated blows to his head, Hoffer, 39, fought back and overpowered his attacker, breaking his arm and pinning him to the ground, police said.  Hoffer told police he heard his attacker scream, “Alan, get off of me!  I can’t breathe.”  Police say that’s when Hoffer realized his father-in-law was the man behind the ski mask.

Bensimhon, an anesthesiologist, had a backpack filled with syringes, different types of anesthetics, a screw driver and additional surgical gloves, according to police.

Hoffer was getting ready to leave for the airport to visit his 1-year-old daughter in Florida living with his estranged wife, who is Bensimhon’s daughter. Hoffer and his wife, Danielle, are in the middle of a contentious divorce.

Police arrested Bensimhon following the attack and a grand jury indicted him on one count of attempted aggravated murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of felonious assault. 

Bensimhon appeared in Cleveland Heights Municipal Court on Sept. 5 and was released on $500,000 bond.  He’s due back in court Sept. 25.

Bensimhon has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment.  He is expected to enter a plea when he next appears in court on Sept. 25 for a preliminary hearing.

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