A 15-year-old teenager has been arrested on a charge of murder for allegedly strangling his grandmother until she lost consciousness. The incident took place in South Milwaukee, where police responded to a call at the teen’s residence on August 27, finding 68-year-old Elizabeth Totsky unresponsive.
According to the South Milwaukee Police Department, the boy used his arm and elbow to apply pressure to his grandmother’s neck for about five minutes. Initially, he claimed they were cooking together when she had a seizure and collapsed. However, autopsy results revealed evidence of strangulation and hemorrhages, prompting the teen to change his story during a subsequent police interview.
The revised account stated that the grandson went downstairs due to a burning smell, discovering his grandmother on the floor. This version contradicted his initial statement about witnessing her seizure. Following the autopsy findings confirming strangulation, the teenager confessed to the crime, though the motive remains unclear.
Notably, the victim’s husband disclosed that the grandson had previously attempted to strangle Totsky. He recounted an instance where she had been choked from behind by the defendant, causing her to lose consciousness temporarily. The husband mentioned that she had seen the grandson standing over her after regaining consciousness.
The teenager, who initially faced charges in juvenile court, has now been charged as an adult with first-degree intentional homicide. His court appearance is scheduled for the upcoming week.
