Police say a Sheboygan Falls woman admitted to suffocating her 2-year-old son and hiding the boy’s body in a cardboard box before calling 911 last week.
Katlyn Kinateder, 27, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and felony charges related to moving the body of a corpse.
According to a criminal complaint, Kinateder was holding a knife when officers arrived at the home Thursday. They eventually convinced her to drop the weapon, but needed to use a Taser after she wouldn’t cooperate.
Kinateder reportedly told authorities that she killed Dexter Kinateder by putting a plastic grocery bag over his head and suffocating him. Efforts to revive Dexter were unsuccessful at the scene and at a local hospital.
“She stated that she ‘lost her mind’ and wanted to die,” according to the criminal complaint.
"It appears she understands what's going on, the question is what did she understand when she was doing this," said Sheboygan County District Attorney Joe DeCecco.
He says he expects Kinateder to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Her next hearing is August 17.
"What that means is the medical professionals have to determine that she does suffer from a mental disease or defect and that particular condition either prevented her the time she did this from knowing right from wrong," said DeCecco.
"Children are among the most vulnerable of our society and adults are supposed to protect them, not kill them," he added.
Kinateder also told investigators that she stopped taking anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drugs months ago because she thought she could “handle it,” according to the criminal complaint.
She also reportedly said she used the knife because she wanted the cops to “shoot her dead.”
If convicted, Kinateder could face up to life in prison.
