Topline: He told investigators his daughter ‘humiliated’ him and continually left her children with him, according to police.
Published: April 3, 2025 7:00 am ET
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Fritzner Antoine (via Knox County Jail)
VINCENNES, IN — Prosecutors say a father stabbed his daughter in the head because he felt disrespected by her “asking him to watch her children too often.”
The Knox County Prosecutor’s Office announced 64-year-old Fritzner Antoine was sentenced on Monday to 60 years in prison for the murder of 30-year-old Sterline Antoine Joseph in 2023.
According to NBC affiliate WTWO/WAWV, police responded to a call around 7 a.m. on June 24, 2023, in the 1400 block of Audubon Road, in Vincennes, Indiana, for reports of a woman bleeding from stab wounds.
Responding officers discovered Sterline Joseph and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said two children heard Sterline’s screams as she was killed by her father—and their grandfather.
Shortly thereafter, Fritzner confessed to Vincennes Police Department Detective Waggoner, saying that his daughter had “disrespected him.”
“She did this by asking him to watch her children too often,” prosecutors said in a news release.
He admitted he selected a gold knife and stabbed her “in the head or wherever else he could.”
Antoine told investigators his daughter ‘humiliated’ him and continually left her children with him, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“Antoine stated that he selected a ‘gold’ ‘table knife’ from near the sink in the residence,” the arrest record read. “Antoine stated that he intended to ‘flog’ [Sterline] for being disrespectful to him, he had the knife in his hand, so he ‘did it’.”
When investigators told Antoine that his daughter was dead and he was under arrest for murder, he reportedly replied, “yes, I agree.”
Prosecutor Dirk Carnahan said that there is no satisfaction in the court’s ruling.
“Members of the victim’s family were here today,” he said. “Sixty years or 600 years doesn’t change their lives. Seeing the woman’s husband, her mother and other family members today helped make it clear what the limits of our system are. We try every single day to make a difference, but sometimes there really isn’t any justice or closure.”
He added, “All that we can do is keep trying to do what is right, keep trying to make a difference, and be willing to believe that sometimes what we do matters—even when it doesn’t seem to.”
Authorities said Antoine had recently moved to the states from Haiti to live with his daughter.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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DA: ‘Disrespected’ Dad Murdered Daughter Because She Asked Him to Watch Her Children Too Often
He told investigators his daughter ‘humiliated’ him and continually left her children with him, according to police.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 3, 2025 7:00 am ET
Fritzner Antoine (via Knox County Jail)
VINCENNES, IN — Prosecutors say a father stabbed his daughter in the head because he felt disrespected by her “asking him to watch her children too often.”
The Knox County Prosecutor’s Office announced 64-year-old Fritzner Antoine was sentenced on Monday to 60 years in prison for the murder of 30-year-old Sterline Antoine Joseph in 2023.
According to NBC affiliate WTWO/WAWV, police responded to a call around 7 a.m. on June 24, 2023, in the 1400 block of Audubon Road, in Vincennes, Indiana, for reports of a woman bleeding from stab wounds.
Responding officers discovered Sterline Joseph and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said two children heard Sterline’s screams as she was killed by her father—and their grandfather.
Shortly thereafter, Fritzner confessed to Vincennes Police Department Detective Waggoner, saying that his daughter had “disrespected him.”
“She did this by asking him to watch her children too often,” prosecutors said in a news release.
He admitted he selected a gold knife and stabbed her “in the head or wherever else he could.”
Antoine told investigators his daughter ‘humiliated’ him and continually left her children with him, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“Antoine stated that he selected a ‘gold’ ‘table knife’ from near the sink in the residence,” the arrest record read. “Antoine stated that he intended to ‘flog’ [Sterline] for being disrespectful to him, he had the knife in his hand, so he ‘did it’.”
When investigators told Antoine that his daughter was dead and he was under arrest for murder, he reportedly replied, “yes, I agree.”
Prosecutor Dirk Carnahan said that there is no satisfaction in the court’s ruling.
“Members of the victim’s family were here today,” he said. “Sixty years or 600 years doesn’t change their lives. Seeing the woman’s husband, her mother and other family members today helped make it clear what the limits of our system are. We try every single day to make a difference, but sometimes there really isn’t any justice or closure.”
He added, “All that we can do is keep trying to do what is right, keep trying to make a difference, and be willing to believe that sometimes what we do matters—even when it doesn’t seem to.”
Authorities said Antoine had recently moved to the states from Haiti to live with his daughter.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
DA: ‘Disrespected’ Dad Murdered Daughter Because She Asked Him to Watch Her Children Too Often
He told investigators his daughter ‘humiliated’ him and continually left her children with him, according to police.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 3, 2025 7:00 am ET
Fritzner Antoine (via Knox County Jail)
VINCENNES, IN — Prosecutors say a father stabbed his daughter in the head because he felt disrespected by her “asking him to watch her children too often.”
The Knox County Prosecutor’s Office announced 64-year-old Fritzner Antoine was sentenced on Monday to 60 years in prison for the murder of 30-year-old Sterline Antoine Joseph in 2023.
According to NBC affiliate WTWO/WAWV, police responded to a call around 7 a.m. on June 24, 2023, in the 1400 block of Audubon Road, in Vincennes, Indiana, for reports of a woman bleeding from stab wounds.
Responding officers discovered Sterline Joseph and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said two children heard Sterline’s screams as she was killed by her father—and their grandfather.
Shortly thereafter, Fritzner confessed to Vincennes Police Department Detective Waggoner, saying that his daughter had “disrespected him.”
“She did this by asking him to watch her children too often,” prosecutors said in a news release.
He admitted he selected a gold knife and stabbed her “in the head or wherever else he could.”
Antoine told investigators his daughter ‘humiliated’ him and continually left her children with him, according to a probable cause affidavit.
“Antoine stated that he selected a ‘gold’ ‘table knife’ from near the sink in the residence,” the arrest record read. “Antoine stated that he intended to ‘flog’ [Sterline] for being disrespectful to him, he had the knife in his hand, so he ‘did it’.”
When investigators told Antoine that his daughter was dead and he was under arrest for murder, he reportedly replied, “yes, I agree.”
Prosecutor Dirk Carnahan said that there is no satisfaction in the court’s ruling.
“Members of the victim’s family were here today,” he said. “Sixty years or 600 years doesn’t change their lives. Seeing the woman’s husband, her mother and other family members today helped make it clear what the limits of our system are. We try every single day to make a difference, but sometimes there really isn’t any justice or closure.”
He added, “All that we can do is keep trying to do what is right, keep trying to make a difference, and be willing to believe that sometimes what we do matters—even when it doesn’t seem to.”
Authorities said Antoine had recently moved to the states from Haiti to live with his daughter.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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