‘Horrific and Disturbing’: Minnesota Man Accused of Murdering 82-Year-Old Mother, Scattering Dismembered Remains in Ditch

A man in Minnesota has been charged with murdering his 82-year-old mother last year and then discarding her dismembered body parts along the ditch, according to authorities.

According to KARE, 56-year-old Troy Mitteness admitted to stabbing his mother Sandra Mitteness in June 2022 and then dismembered his mother’s body in the days following the alleged murder and scattered her remains along the ditch as he drove from Burnsville to Appleton.

Mitteness allegedly killed his mother because he spent all her money and she was starting to grow suspicious, authorities said.

Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena told KARE, “The facts alleged in this case make it one of the most horrific and disturbing cases I’ve experienced in the course of my 34-year career.”

In June 2023, police started investigating Mitteness for mail fraud. Before authorities even learned of Sandra Mitteness’ disappearance, they learned that stolen money was being deposited into her bank accounts, KARE reported.

Troy originally told investigators that his mother was in South Dakota, but then admitted she had died on June 14, 2022. Investigators talked with relatives, who were also under the belief that Sandra died last year, according to KARE.

After speaking with relatives and finding an online obituary which listed a funeral home that had no connection to Sandra, police decided to open a missing persons investigation.

Investigators also recovered blood from Sandra Mitteness’ vehicle which had been sold to a family member following her death. Police also found blood on a mattress and stairs in her home, according to officials.

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Before he allegedly stabbed his mother in bed, Troy reportedly researched how to kill an elderly person. He told police he put her remains in several large totes and eventually discarded two of them at a rest stop, according to KSTP-TV.

Troy was charged with second-degree murder and his bail was set at $2 million. He was also charged with mail theft late last month, officials said.