Minnesota – A Minnesota parent, 34-year-old E. Stotenburgh, was arrested last week after officers responded to reports of a child’s throat being assauIted with a bIade at a rural residence in Minnesota. She was charged with attempted second‑degree murder without intent and second‑degree assault following the incident, according to an arrest affidavit and statement from the sheriff’s office.
Minnesota authorities arrived at the scene after the woman’s husband, who was at work at the time, called 911. He said his wife had made a frantic call claiming de mons had taken over her body and were telling her to kill her children. When officers reached the property, they found the parent standing outside wearing minimal clothing and appeared disoriented. She was immediately placed in handcuffs.
The woman told responding officers and investigators that she had heard voices who compelled her to commit horrific acts. She said the voices first made her eat a piece of dog f-ces, then decapitate a sick duck the day before, cut open its head and eat one of its eyes. She admitted showing the decapitated head to her children. Her husband gave deputies consent to search the home, and they discovered a severed duck head on a cutting board next to a bIood-stained spoon. A kitchen knife with what appeared to be blood was found in the sink.
The woman told deputies that on that morning, the same voices compelled her to take a knife from the kitchen and go into her son’s bedroom. She said she rolled her sleeping son over and slit his throat, but believed the blade was too dull to inflict a fatal wound. She said she then went downstairs to sharpen the knife before reconsidering and stopping in the stairwell. By that time, she said, she thought everyone in her family would die.
Her husband told investigators he had received a frightening call from her stating “they” were taking over her. That prompted him to immediately contact law enforcement. After her arrest, Stoutenburgh was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. Deputies reported that the juvenile victim sustained non‑life-threatening injuries.
Investigators secured the scene and continued collecting statements and physical evidence. The sheriff’s office confirmed the victim’s injuries were not fatal, and press releases state the investigation remains ongoing. The case is being coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office with assistance from local law enforcement, with more details expected as forensic and mental health evaluations proceed.
The mother is currently held in custody pending further court proceedings, with her initial appearance scheduled for July 28, 2025. The charges she faces carry maximum penalties up to 20 years if convicted of attempted second‑degree murder.
