‘I’m just going to kill you, because I’m going to prison anyway’: Man attacked woman with hatchet after she broke up with him
07/01/2026 8:00 am PDT
FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. (TCN) -- A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to 90 years for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a hatchet while attempting to sexually assault her.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by WTMJ, Hayden Daffinson and the unnamed victim had been together for about eight months when she broke up with him in June 2025. Daffinson arrived at her home on June 22, 2025, with a hatchet and attempted to sexually assault her while striking her with the weapon. She was hit in the back, hands, head, and arms more than 25 times.
Washington County Daily News reports that Daffinson hit the victim five times with the hatchet before forcing her to perform oral sex on him and then attempted to have sex with her before saying, “(Expletive) it, I’m just going to kill you, because I’m going to prison anyway.”
WLUK reports that the victim dialed 911 to report the attack. She was treated for injuries including two broken arms and a skull fracture; WTMJ reports she underwent extensive surgeries.
Daffinson was arrested after a police chase on June 23, 2025, during which he drove nearly 110 miles per hour, WTMJ reports.
In March, Daffinson pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault, and mayhem, per WTMJ. Because he pleaded guilty, charges of first-degree reckless injury, aggravated battery with the intent for great bodily harm, intimidating a victim using or attempting force, and false imprisonment were dismissed. He was sentenced June 29 to 60 years of initial confinement and 30 years of extended supervision post-release.
WLUK reports that in addition to prison time and supervision post-release, Daffinson has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $48,497.73.
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