Wisconsin man called authorities about dead body. He’s now accused of murdering his mother

A man who alerted law enforcement officials about a body is now accused of murder, federal prosecutors in Wisconsin said.

On May 10 around 3 p.m., Sean Pickett, 21, called authorities to report a dead woman in a home in the village of Avoca, according to federal prosecutors.

Inside the residence, responding officers from the Avoca Police Department found the body of Susan Pickett, 54, as well as a dog. The victim’s son, Sean, allegedly had blood on his shoes, pants and shirt, NBC15 reported 

Pickett is now considered a suspect in the death of his mother, 

According to Madison’s WMTV, the DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation interviewed the son and he allegedly admitted to killing the dog and using a knife to stab his mother in the neck before taking a metal pole and striking her on the head and body.

Sean Picket was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and could face up to life in prison if convicted.

In addition, he is accused of intentional mistreatment of an animal resulting in death. If found guilty on that charge, he could be fined up to $10,000 and be sentenced to over three years in prison, or both. 

A judge ordered Pickett be held on a cash bond of up to $100,000. 

A neighbor of the mother and son told WKOW that they didn’t know much about the pair. "I think I did see their son once or twice," Ray Peterson said. 

A second neighbor, Carlene Ramsden, noted the area has had some drug-related troubles, but never murder.

“That just saddened me to no end,” Ramsden said. “It's something you never think will [happen]. Just extremely horrified by that."