ELKHORN, Wis. — 38-year-old Joseph Christman is accused of attacking his roommate with a metal pipe inside their home near Elkhorn. Authorities also found his roommate's mother dead inside of the home they all shared, but Christman is not charged with her death.
Christman made his first appearance before a Walworth County judge Tuesday afternoon. He remains in the Walworth County jail, and he appeared in the courtroom through video call.
Watch: Elkhorn man charged with attempted murder of his roommate makes first appearance in court
Authorities responded to Christman's home at the Evergreen Golf Course on February 21. According to the criminal complaint, they discovered 62-year-old Jody Marzello's body on the floor of her bedroom, and Marzello's son had "significant lacerations to the top of his head and above his eyebrow."
Christman faces charges of first-degree attempted homicide, aggravated battery, strangulation, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and felony intimidation of a victim.
The home Christman shared with his roommates now features a large dumpster filled with items on the driveway. Christman's public defender hoped the judge would grant a motion for the homeowners to stop removing items from the house.
"It seems like things are being taken out of the house very quickly," the public defender said. "Something exculpatory could be in the house, and it may have been disposed of or is in the process of being disposed of."
However, the judge and assistant district attorney Thomas Binger disagreed with the motion. They say the homeowners have a right to the house since the search for evidence under the warrant has ended.
"I would characterize it as a macabre order to keep this family in a state of mourning," Binger said. "They should be allowed to regain control of their residence and do what they feel is appropriate, like any homeowner would do here."
The family of the victim is currently raising money to pay for his hospital bills.
Christman is scheduled to return to court on March 16.
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