Son charged in murder, attempted murder of parents

A Maple Grove man was charged with killing his mother and assaulting his father, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday.

Matthew Witt, 42, was charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. He is expected to make his first court appearance Monday and prosecutors will be seeking bail of $1 million.

According to the criminal complaint, Maple Grove police went to the 6600 block of Eagle Lake Drive. N, about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on a 911 call hang-up. Witt answered the door covered in blood and told the officers to take him to jail, that he did it but they were alive.

The officers arrested Witt and then entered the house to find his mother not far from the door with severe head trauma, and despite life-saving measures, she was declared dead at the scene. They then went to an upstairs bathroom and found Witt’s father with severe injuries that included facial fractures, a head laceration that required staples and other facial bruises, the complaint states.

Witt’s father told police that his son suffered from mental health problems. The three were at the home when Witt attacked his parents, using only his fists, according to the complaint.

Witt Criminal Complaint (PDF)