A Michigan woman named Katie Lee has been accused and has reportedly admitted to killing her 17-year-old son, Austin Dean Pikaart. Lee admitted while on a 911 call that both she and her son had attempted suicide together. However, when she "couldn't get her son to stop breathing," she used a knife to allegedly cut her son's throat, killing him.
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According to WZZM, Katie Lee called 911 on Friday, February 20 at around 4:30 a.m. During the call, Lee reported that "she couldn't get her son to stop breathing and had been trying for a while," according to court records.
WOOD reports that, the day before, both Lee and Austin attempted to overdose by taking medication at around 1 p.m. At around 6 p.m., Lee noticed Austian had passed out, and decided to use the knife to cut her son's throat and arm, court records show. She would also report this to the 911 dispatcher.
"She advised her son asked her to help him stop breathing because he did not want to turn 18," a detective said during Lee's probable cause hearing.
When police arrived at her home, they found Lee with bloodied clothes and a knife in her hand. Court records stated that she had the knife "up by her shoulder as if to threaten." After refusing to drop the knife, she was tased by an officer. However, she was tased again after she attempted to grab the knife again. Reportedly, Lee told the officers that they were supposed to kill her "so she could be with her son."
Arrested And Charged
Police officers found Austin Dean Pikaart's lifeless body lying in his bed. An autopsy confirmed that he died as a result of the cut on his neck. His death was ruled a homicide.
Katie Lee was transported to a local hospital to possibly receive overdose treatment. She was arrested and charged with open murder and resisting and obstructing an officer, according to WZZM. Her next court appearance is yet to be scheduled.
In Austin's obituary, he is described lovingly by his family, describing him as an "exceedingly interesting character."
"Austin had a patient gentle kind hearted soul as well as a great love for helping others," the obituary reads. "He was an adventurous spirit, with such little fear and an all around one of a kind."
