A 56-year-old Wisconsin woman was stabbed to death in her Eau Claire home, allegedly by her 27-year-old son, who told police he had Dairy Queen for what he considered his "last meal" before the killing, according to investigators.
Authorities identified the victim as Lisa M. Bragg-Hurlburt, 56, and her son as Michael J. Hurlburt, 27, of Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Eau Claire police said officers were dispatched to Bragg-Hurlburt's residence on Friday, May 22, after a 911 caller reported a homicide at the address. Responding officers found Bragg-Hurlburt suffering from multiple stab wounds, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, according to People.
According to a criminal complaint cited by local outlets, Michael allegedly told investigators that he had his mother pick him up from a Dairy Queen in nearby Menomonie earlier that day because he wanted it to be his "last meal" before his arrest.
Police say he then had her drive to her Eau Claire home, telling her he wanted to speak with her alone before allegedly carrying out the attack. He later called 911 himself and told the dispatcher, "I killed her," according to the complaint.
An autopsy determined that Bragg-Hurlburt sustained more than 40 stab wounds, primarily to her neck and upper back, court records state.
Investigators say Michael admitted to stabbing his mother repeatedly, allegedly saying he wanted to "make a statement to the rest of the family." Police have not said whether there were any prior domestic violence calls or documented conflicts between the two.
Detectives are still working to establish a clear motive, but the criminal complaint states Michael told officers he believed he was being "gang-stalked" by the U.S. and Chinese governments, Fox News reported.
He allegedly claimed these perceived threats contributed to his decision to kill his mother, though authorities have not found evidence supporting his claims, according to local reports. No other injuries were reported in connection with the incident, and police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Michael Hurlburt has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Eau Claire County, online court records show.
He is being held in custody, and it was not immediately clear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf. Court dates in the case had not yet been publicly announced as of midweek, according to local media, as per the Independent.
