A Michigan woman is facing an open murder charge for the death of her 17-year-old son, Austin Pikaart, after she allegedly slit his throat when their joint suicide attempt failed. The woman, identified as 39-year-old Katie Lee of Holland, is also charged with resisting and obstructing an officer for reportedly threatening police officers who responded to her 911 call reporting her son’s death.
Lee, who was arraigned on Monday and is currently in custody without bond, reportedly told the police that she and her son had attempted to overdose on medication together. When this failed to end her son’s life, she allegedly cut his throat. The Holland Department of Public Safety, which provides police services for the city, reported that Lee had called 911, stating that she was unable to get her son to stop breathing.
Detective Sgt. Brent Sluiter, during Lee’s arraignment, stated that Lee had told dispatch that her son had asked her to help him stop breathing because he did not want to turn 18. The police also reported that Lee admitted to using a knife to cut her son’s throat while he was unconscious, and stab wounds were found on his arm.
The police responded to a domestic incident report at an apartment in the Bay Pointe Apartment Complex early in the morning. Upon arrival, they were confronted by a female subject holding a knife. After multiple verbal commands, the officers deployed a Taser and successfully took the 39-year-old female into custody.
Sluiter further detailed that Lee had expressed a desire to be killed by the responding officers after her failed overdose attempt. She reportedly stated that she wanted to die so she could be with her son.
During her arraignment, local news outlets captured footage of Lee crying as Holland District Judge Bradley Knoll ordered her to be held without bond. Knoll informed the court that Lee had refused to speak with the Public Defender’s Office and a bond screener before the hearing. When asked if she wanted a public defender to represent her, Lee responded affirmatively.