A woman in Wisconsin has been charged in connection with the fatal strangling of her eight-year-old son, with a criminal complaint revealing she had allegedly become “amped up” over the Russia and Ukraine war in the days prior.
Per a report from NBC News, the “woman with Russian heritage” is 41-year-old Natalia Aleksandrovna Hitchcock, of Sheboygan Falls. She has been charged with both first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide after choking Oliver Hitchcock, who ultimately died from injuries sustained during the March assault.
In an initial statement announcing Oliver’s death, the Sheboygan Falls Police Department said those involved with the child’s care “did everything” they could to save him.
“On behalf of the City of Sheboygan Falls and its residents, we offer condolences and prayers to the family of Oliver Hitchcock,” SFPD chief Eric Miller said. “This tragedy is not anything any family should have to endure.” Per Miller, the investigation was helmed by the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department.
A local report from WISN this week adds additional insight into the case, including excerpts from a six-page criminal complaint containing comments from the woman’s husband. Natalia, the complaint explains, was born in Russia, where her mother still resides. In the days prior to Oliver’s death, there was a marked escalation in Natalia’s behavior, according to the husband. At one point, she is said to have asked him to purchase various “survival gear” items. She’s also said to have been angered by the fact she was not able to travel to Russia to visit family.
On the day of Oliver’s death, the young boy’s father told authorities, he was woken up from a nap by his older son informing him what had transpired. The husband said Natalia confessed to killing Oliver, as well as threatened to kill everyone in the apartment. Police also said Natalia told them she had fears of “the Russian government” taking her children and abusing them.
“[The husband] said that he felt the war between Russia and Ukraine amped up Hitchcock more than ever and that she started to drink alcohol,” the complaint stated. Elsewhere, police said Hitchcock had stabbed herself and—during a subsequent interview—admitted to having assaulted Oliver.
Complex has reached out to a rep for the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department for comment and will update this post accordingly. At the time of this writing, Natalia was listed as among those currently under custody at the Sheboygan County Jail. In addition to the death of her youngest son, she is also accused of having attempted to drown her older child.
