The internet celebrity known as "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker," who faces a murder charge in New Jersey in the death of a lawyer, was taken to the hospital Wednesday after authorities discovered him with self-inflicted wounds caused by an apparent suicide attempt, officials said.
Caleb "Kai" McGillvary was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries and is expected to recover.
Union County spokesman Sebastian D'Elia tells The Star-Ledger of Newark the 24-year-old Canadian was later taken to another health care facility and is under guard. He declined to detail the injuries.
McGillvary is charged with beating 73-year-old lawyer Joseph Galfy to death after they met in New York City. Galfy's partially clad body was found in his Clark, N.J., home two days later. McGillvary was arrested in Philadelphia May 16 and waived extradition.
McGillvary gained online fame in February after intervening in an attack on a utility worker in Fresno, Calif. He gave an interview to a local television station describing how he used a hatchet to fend off the attacker.
The clip has been viewed millions of times on YouTube and led to an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for McGillvary.
Authorities allege McGillvary and Galfy met in Times Square the weekend of May 11. They then drove to Galfy's home where McGillvary spent at least one night and beat Galfy to death, according to authorities.
