A man is being held responsible for allegedly killing his cousin

ELKHART, Ind.- A young man from Elkhart is dead allegedly at the hands of his own flesh and blood. The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department released the name of the possible suspect.

23-year-old Derrick Wandrick is accused in the stabbing death of 21-year-old David Strowder Jr.

ABC57 talked exclusively with family who was shocked when they found out the young man accused of stabbing him to death was his own cousin.

“They’re cousins, first blood cousins. Family,” say the mother, sister and aunt of Strowder Jr.

“We never suspected, we never thought,” adds Lynnette Strowder, aunt of the victim. …”That someone in the family, our blood, you just would never think...”

The victim’s mother, Denetra Hixson says besides never imaging something like this coming, it’s unbelievable that it happened within family. “They were like brothers growing up, that’s why we don’t understand it.”

On Monday, October 23rd the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department says Strowder Jr. was allegedly stabbed by 23-year-old Derrick Wandrick multiple times.

Strowder Jr. died because of his injuries.

“David was a sweet person, big heart. He loved everyone,” says the victim’s aunt.

“He was happy, he was laughing and dancing, what he does everyday,” said his sister Davonna Strowder.

She said she last heard his voice hours before he was killed, “My mom and my sister came to the door and just had tears and I knew from there he was gone.”

Strowder Jr., originally from Chicago, had been living in Elkhart for a while working at different factories.

His sister says the incident with his cousin is more than unfortunate, “Jealousy, hate, they’re mad at their life. You feel protected when you’re around my brother. He’s an awesome person. He loved everyone.”

Although the Kosciosko County Sheriff’s Department has charged Wandrick with the death of Strowder Jr. he is innocent until proven guilty.

Right now, Wandrick is being held at the county jail with no bond.