Tinder Attacker Erich Stelzer Was Set To Enter Rehab Days Before Death
Dec. 31 2018, Published 8:02 p.m. ET
Erich Stelzer sought help in the days before he stabbed his Tinder date in a paranoid rage, the late YouTube star's father revealed to RadarOnline.com in an exclusive interview.
"My wife was going to get him to a rehab place the next day," Harry Stelzer told RadarOnline.com of the 25-year-old bodybuilder, who died after being tased by police on December 27. "She was at the facility setting that up."
Harry said his son could still be here today had medical personnel taken him to treatment when he initially called them in a crisis on Christmas Eve.
"I do know that he called the EMTs on Christmas Eve and sought help," Harry, 63, claimed. "The EMT came over to the house and asked him his name and age, and they told him 'You're okay.'"
"I talked to his friends and they said he was fine. I talked to someone else who said he was fine one day and then he was a little edgy on another day."
It was the very next day, on Christmas, Erich's mother Nancy went to a rehab facility to look into a program for him, Harry said.
- Ex-NFL Star Zac Stacy Seeking Treatment For 'Psychological And Physical Issues' Amid Legal Woes For Alleged Abuse Of Ex-Girlfriend
- Stomach-Turning Video Shows Troubled Ex-NFL Star Zac Stacy Vandalizing Ex-Girlfriend's Car After He Allegedly Assaulted Her
- Cops Investigating Jake Paul's Wild Party After 2 Women Rushed To Hospital
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
But two days later, Erich was dead after he viciously attacked his Tinder date, Maegan Tapley, 24, in his Massachusetts home.
The online star was suffering from delusions and other mental health problems, a family attorney said.
Thankfully, vet assistant Meagan survived the attack and is recovering.
Despite Erich's behavior, the devastated dad insisted he "is not an evil kid."
"He was a 6’4″ gentle giant, non-confrontational. He would walk out of places. He would walk away from confrontation.”
We pay for juicy info! Do you have a story for RadarOnline.com? Email us at tips@radaronline.com, or call us at (866) ON-RADAR (667-2327) any time, day or night.