A 56-year-old Minnesota man admitted he killed his mother because he had spent all her money and she was becoming suspicious.
Troy Michael Mitteness, confessed to the murder of his 82-year-old mother, Sandra Viola Mitteness.
Mitteness was already in custody for theft, mail theft and forgery when he was charged with second-degree murder for the crime, as well as the dissection of his mother’s body and disposal of the parts in bins along the state highway.
In an interview following his arrest, Mitteness admitted to authorities that his mother had begun questioning him about her finances. Mitteness shared that he had researched ways to kill an elderly person without the use of poison and ultimately decided to stab her in the neck while she was asleep.
He went on to explain that he dismembered his mother’s body after a few days, packing the remains in plastic totes in his garage. He drove around disposing of these totes along his route to avert detection. Reportedly, he left two totes behind a dumpster at a deserted rest stop on Highway 7, en route to Willmar, Minnesota.
Law enforcement initiated the investigation based on allegations of mail theft by Mitteness. During the inquiry, they found that stolen funds were deposited into Sandra Mitteness’ bank account. When officers tried to talk to the older Mitteness, her son initially told them she was in South Dakota. He later confessed that she had died on June 14, 2022.
The Burnsville Police Department’s investigation led them to execute a search warrant at Mitteness’ residence, where they discovered blood evidence in both Sandra’s car and the house. Family members corroborated Mitteness’ claim of his mother’s death, having not seen her for approximately a year.
Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena, who described the case as one of the most horrifying of her career, applauded the Burnsville Police Department’s work in solving the case. Currently, Mitteness is held at the Dakota County Jail with a bond set at $2 million. His Omnibus Hearing is scheduled for July 20.
