According to court documents, a 70-year-old woman, later identified as Renee, has been convicted of third-degree murder in connection with an incident where she fatally stabbed a 31-year-old man, later identified as Michael, who was involved in a confrontation with her son, with a blade concealed within her walking cane.
Law enforcement was dispatched to the scene of the incident that took place in the early hours of June 10, 2023. Upon arrival, officers found Michael suffering from severe stab wounds to his upper torso. Despite emergency medical efforts, Michael died in the hospital an hour later. Eyewitness accounts provided to detectives revealed that the confrontation escalated from a previous dispute where Michael was “sucker punched” by a mutual friend, later identified as Jason, Renee’s son. The situation intensified when Michael attempted to prevent Jason from entering a white car, leading to the involvement of Renee and her husband.
An eyewitness described seeing Renee “lunge” at Michael with what appeared to be her cane, causing him to fall to the ground, bleeding profusely. It was then revealed that the cane contained a hidden 16-inch blade. Following the stabbing, Renee, her husband, and their son Jason, fled the scene in the vehicle. Renee claimed self-defense, stating she was only trying to protect her son from an assailant. She recounted receiving a distressing call from her son, who was upset and crying, leading her and her husband to rush to his aid with a baseball bat and the weaponized cane. She told detectives that, in the heat of the moment, she “poked” Michael as he advanced towards her, causing him to fall.
Despite her claims, jurors found Renee guilty of third-degree murder and possessing an instrument of crime after several hours of deliberation. Renee, visibly shaken by the verdict, indicated her intention to appeal, questioning what others would do if faced with a threat to their child. The sentencing date for Renee remains undetermined, leaving many to ponder the tragic series of events that led to a life lost and a family facing irreparable consequences.
