Teenager who dreamed of one day having a family is found dead in a pool of blood after ‘pre-planned’ stabbing attack

A young teenager who was stabbed to death in what appeared to be a planned late-night attack is being remembered by heartbroken loved ones as a kind boy who longed for a family.

Emergency services were called to a house on Carey Avenue in Seaton in Adelaide’s west on Tuesday evening after reports a man had been stabbed.

Scot Phillips, 19, was stabbed multiple times and died at the scene in a pool of his own blood, despite desperate attempts by emergency services to resuscitate him.

According to police, the teenager was ‘lured’ from the property along with a housemate and his partner after the electricity in the house went out just before the attack.

His sister Kerrie Rigney said he was “not aggressive” but had fallen in with the wrong circle of friends after being placed in a group home at a young age.

Mr. Phillips left home at age 17 to live with his older sister, who tried hard to be more of a sibling than a mother.

According to his sister, several of the boys in the group home had been in prison and had “introduced him to people he shouldn’t have known.”

“He wasn’t meant for that world, he was too nice,” Mrs. Rigney told the Advertiser.

‘I didn’t like his friends at all, but he was at that age and said, ‘They’re the only family I know.’

“He just wanted a family life and being in a nursing home was hard.”

She added that he just wanted to be loved and have a family.

Police believe the attack was not random, as the attacker was visible but not identified in the house’s CCTV footage.

Major detectives have launched an investigation into the death of Mr Phillips.

Detective Chief Inspector Des Bray said Mr Phillips and a group of friends had just returned home from a night out at the local pub when the power went out.

He said the teen was “immediately attacked by at least one person.”

“The individual was armed, he was waiting and he carried out a savage attack on the victim,” Detective Superintendent Bray told media on Wednesday.

“The injuries and the attack on Scott make it clear there was an intent to kill him, and his injuries were not survivable.”

Detectives have launched a manhunt for a man wearing dark clothing and a dark face mask or balaclava, with a hood over it.

The man is described as tall, athletic build and with a narrow waist.

It is understood the attacker approached Mr Phillips from Fidock Ave and headed down the same road, before ‘two suspicious vehicles’ drove past the scene.

“At this time, all available resources and the main crimes are being deployed to this investigation, along with a wide range of other resources,” said Detective Chief Inspector Bray.

Mr Phillips’ sister said he “just wanted to be loved” and added that he had been mistreated when he was placed in a group home at a young age.

According to police, the teenager was ‘lured’ out of the house by the attacker after the electricity in the house went out (emergency services are pictured at the scene)

A number of items, including meat cleavers, found knives, gloves and masks found at the crime scene, have been seized for further examination.

“The truth is we have no idea what or what else is involved in this investigation,” said Detective Chief Inspector Bray.

“At this point we’re hoping that there are one or two things that are connected.”

Police are also investigating Mr Phillips’ life to ‘build a picture of what happened and identify suspects’.

According to his sister, Scot Phillips just wanted to be loved and have a family

Police have now raided a home in Hectorville in Adelaide’s east, where they arrested a 19-year-old man who detectives believe was involved in the attack.

He was charged with illegal possession of a shotgun and ammunition. He remains in custody.

“We believe that this person is of interest to our investigation, but we have no evidence at this stage to charge him or her, so we are continuing our investigation,” said Detective Chief Inspector Bray.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage of the situation around the time of the incident is asked to contact police.