Mom accused of killing son, trying to cut out her own heart was allegedly upset over Ukraine war

SHEBOYGAN FALLS, Wis. (TCD) -- A 41-year-old woman is accused of killing her 8-year-old son and trying to kill her 11-year-old son after she allegedly became more agitated and concerned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Sheboygan Falls Police Department, on March 30 at approximately 5 p.m., officers responded to a call at 1110 Plank Trail Lane regarding a woman who had "assaulted her eight-year-old male child" in their apartment. The juvenile’s father reportedly started lifesaving measures on the little boy before police and other EMS officials arrived.

The 8-year-old was transported to Saint Nicolas Hospital in critical condition, and the mother was also taken to a hospital for self-inflicted wounds. The victim, Oliver Hitchcock, died April 1, the Sheboygan Police Department said in a follow-up statement.

Oliver’s mother has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted intentional homicide.

WBAY-TV identified the suspect as Natalia Hitchcock. In the days leading up to Oliver’s death, Hitchcock allegedly talked to her husband about buying survival gear, including knives and guns.

According to the criminal complaint cited by WBAY, officers found Oliver "pale white and bluish in color" when they got to the apartment. He reportedly had bruising on his neck, "which appeared to have been from fingers or hands."

Oliver’s brother reportedly told his father that Oliver was dead, and the father ran to perform CPR on the little boy. The complaint says Natalia walked around the apartment holding a knife, "dazed, saying she was going to kill everyone."

Her husband reportedly grabbed two knives from her. WITI-TV reports she was trying to "cut out her heart" with one of the knives.

Hitchcock, who is Russian, reportedly became increasingly concerned as the war in Ukraine escalated and continued. WITI, which also cites the criminal complaint, says Hitchcock believed the "Russian government was going to take her children and abuse them" and that people "looked at her as a Russian spy."

According to the complaint cited by WITI, Hitchcock "did not want her kids to be abused" if she killed herself. She allegedly wanted to "end [Oliver’s] suffering with my hands."

At the time of her arrest, Hitchcock allegedly had a "critical amount of Tylenol in her system."

According to WBAY, Hitchcock allegedly tried drowning her other son in their bathtub. The boy reportedly told investigators his mom told him to put his head under the water, and at one point, it felt "like her whole body was pushing him down."

He reportedly got out of the bath and later saw his mother in the kitchen wielding a large knife.

When Hitchcock learned that Oliver died, she allegedly said, "I guess I accomplished what I set out to do."

In a video from her first court appearance, Hitchcock turns around and says, "I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened," as she exits the court room.

She is being held on $1 million bond.

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