A man accused of stabbing an elderly couple in a random home invasion lost his mother to a crippling disease just hours before his alleged attack, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Police allege Joshua Dylan Trethewey, 34, broke into the home of Keith and Di Blessing in Torrington, northern New South Wales, and stabbed the pair just after midnight on Thursday.

Ms Blessing, 72, suffered a chest wound and collapsed, while her 75-year-old husband was allegedly slashed across the abdomen.

Mr Blessing called Triple-0 for urgent help just after 12.15am.

However, before emergency services arrived, Trethewey allegedly attempted to re-enter the house and was shot at by Mr Blessing.

Trethewey is in an induced coma and under police guard in hospital in Armidale, while the couple was airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital in critical condition.

Police said the attack appeared to be random.

Daily Mail has confirmed Trethewey’s mother Kerry, 64, died on Wednesday from Motor Neuron Disease (MND) – a rare, progressive and fatal disorder that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Keith and Di Blessing (pictured) were stabbed in a horrifying midnight home invasion
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Keith and Di Blessing (pictured) were stabbed in a horrifying midnight home invasion

Police say the alleged assailant was unknown to the couple (pictured)
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Police say the alleged assailant was unknown to the couple (pictured)

Keith Blessing allegedly fought off Joshua Trethewey at the rural property
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Keith Blessing allegedly fought off Joshua Trethewey at the rural property

Trethewey has been charged with two counts of cause wounding/grievous bodily harm to person with intent to murder.

He lived with his mum in Deepwater, 28km south-east of Torrington, after his father John Trethewey died of cancer in 2024.

Multiple sources within Deepwater said Trethewey suffered from mental health issues.

Police said he was not known to his victims, but Trethewey was a regular visitor to Torrington and was often seen driving in the area in a silver hatchback.

‘He drove from Deepwater to Torrington twice a day and touched the phone box, and then drove back,’ said one local.

The Blessings’ home is on the route between Deepwater and the Torrington payphone.

A childhood friend of Trethewey’s, said: ‘I used to run into Kerry in Foodworks in Deepwater and she would tell me about Josh.

‘He was working at his family’s autobaling business but he said he was getting bullied so he didn’t last long.’

The Blessings both underwent surgery on Wednesday
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The Blessings both underwent surgery on Wednesday

Locals said Trethewey would frequently drive between Deepwater and Torrington
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Locals said Trethewey would frequently drive between Deepwater and Torrington

The Blessings' home is along the route Trethewey followed
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The Blessings’ home is along the route Trethewey followed

A representative from Tretheway Industries in Deepwater declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Mail on Friday.

‘His mum said since [he left the job] he didn’t want to do anything and would stay at home playing video games and was disconnected from the world,’ added the childhood friend.

‘His mum had been sick for a while, she died the day [the alleged home invasion] happened.

‘His mum was his last leg to stand on, so maybe he just lost the plot… His mum was a lovely natured person.’

The source had lost touch with Tretheweys over the years, but would often see Joshua in the area.

‘He just drove around all day. I would see him go past my place four or five times a day,’ he said.

‘When we were at school he was a quiet, sweet kid. He wouldn’t have hurt a fly. Then we got old… he definitely had a few issues.’

Trethewey was refused bail and was due appear before the Bail Division Court on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Blessing managed to defend his wife and their home
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Mr Blessing managed to defend his wife and their home

Trethewey's schoolfriend shared an image of him from Deepwater Primary School in 1999
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Trethewey’s schoolfriend shared an image of him from Deepwater Primary School in 1999

Trethewey lived in Deepwater as an adult, with his mother who had died hours earlier
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Trethewey lived in Deepwater as an adult, with his mother who had died hours earlier

However just minutes into the court session, the judge told waiting media Trethewey’s matter would not go ahead as the ‘bedside hearing’ had been ‘refused.’

It is believed that was on medical grounds because Trethewey was incapable in the induced coma.

Police sources have confirmed Mr Blessing, a licensed gun owner, is unlikely to face firearms charges after using his weapon to protect himself and his wife.

‘He certainly did his best, obviously under very difficult circumstances, to defend himself and his partner,’ Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon said.

‘It was quite impressive that he was able to do that, given the extent of the injuries that he had suffered.’

Det Supt McKinnon said Mr Blessing was initially able to defend himself after retrieving a knife from the kitchen, injuring the alleged attacker.

‘[The attacker] then left the house, but then he tried to re-enter, and the male had retrieved a firearm and fired one shot at the offender,’ said Supt McKinnon

On Friday, the couple’s daughters spoke to media outside their parents’ hospital, where it’s understood they underwent surgery.

‘We would like to thank everyone who has supported our family,’ said Kathy Blessing, alongside her sister Amanda Batchelor.

The victims' daughters Amanda Batchelor and Kathy Blessing spoke outside hospital
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The victims’ daughters Amanda Batchelor and Kathy Blessing spoke outside hospital

Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon praised Mr Blessing's bravery
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Detective Superintendent Chris McKinnon praised Mr Blessing’s bravery

‘It has been comforting to know we have the support of the wider community.

‘This has been deeply traumatising to our family, and no family should have to go through this.

‘We’re very proud of our parents and their bravery. We have a long road ahead. They are recovering in the hospital here and getting excellent care.’

The Blessings were renowned locally for sharing apples and pears from their fruit trees, often advertising the free haul on Facebook.

Ms Blessing was a keen environmentalist and concerned by the drought gripping the local area and affecting gum trees on their property.

They revealed on social media that had only recently returned home days earlier from a trip away and were thrilled by recent rainfall finally giving the land a soaking.

A former Torrington resident said the couple valued their privacy and had lived in the area for about four years, with their own circle of friends outside the district.

‘They kept to themselves,’ the woman told the Daily Mail.

The woman said when she first met the Blessings they told her: ‘We’re very quiet people and we just want to be on our own really.’

SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15875787/torrington-home-invasion-elderly-couple-stabbed.html