A 34-year-old man in Wisconsin is facing a slew of felony charges after he allegedly tried to kill his ex-girlfriend, using an ax to brutally hack at the 38-year-old woman while picking up his personal items from her home.

Hayden Daffinson was taken into custody on Sunday and charged with one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide with modifiers for use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show. According to a news release from the Fond du Lac Police Department, officers at about 2:38 p.m. on June 22, 2025, responded to a 911 call for assistance at a residence in the 300 block of East Merrill Avenue.

The caller, identified only as an adult female, reported that she had “been attacked with an ax, was actively bleeding, and that the assailant had fled the scene.”

Upon arriving at the scene, first responders located the victim, who appeared to have suffered “serious lacerations to her head, extremities, and back.” Officers immediately began providing lifesaving care while securing the scene.

The victim was transported by first responders to St. Agnes Hospital, in Fond du Lac on the southern end of Lake Winnebago, for treatment. Due to the severity of her injuries, the victim was subsequently airlifted to Theda Medical Center in Neenah, some 30 miles away on the northern end of the lake, where she underwent “extensive surgery.”

Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.

Remarkably, the victim was listed as being in stable condition as of Sunday evening.

“Through intensive investigative efforts, FDLPD Officers quickly identified the suspect as a 34-year-old male,” the release states. “At approximately 7:00 p.m., the suspect”s vehicle was located near Germantown, Wisconsin. After a brief pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody and transported to Froedtert Hospital for medical evaluation.”

Court documents obtained by Green Bay Fox affiliate WLUK provided additional details regarding the attack.

“[The victim] stated she just broke up with the defendant prior to this occurring, that he was at her house to pick up some of his personal property, and that he attacked her with the hatchet,” police reportedly wrote in a criminal complaint.

After he sexually assaulted the victim, Daffinson stated, “F— it, I’m just going to kill you, because I’m going to prison anyway,” according to the document. That is when he allegedly attacked her with the ax, hacking her at least 25 times and leaving her with both arms broken, multiple skull fractures, and wounds to her back, hands, and head.

“[The victim] advised that Daffinson was mad at her because she broke the relationship off but did not think he would do something like this to her,” the document continued.

According to Green Bay ABC affiliate WBAY, the victim begged for her life after the attack, telling Daffinson that if he let her live, she wouldn’t call the police and would make up a story about falling down the stairs.

Police said that during their pursuit of Daffinson, he reached speeds in excess of 110 mph.

“This was a horrific act of violence, and our hearts are with the survivor as she begins her long road to recovery,” Chief of Police Aaron Goldstein said in a statement. “The swift response by our Officers, the cooperation of our partner agencies, and the compassion shown throughout this investigation reflect the very best of what public service stands for. As a community, we must come together to support individuals impacted by violence and remain committed to fostering healing, safety, and resilience for everyone.”

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney told WBAY that the crime was the “most brutal attack I’ve seen as a district attorney.”

Daffinson is currently being held in the Fond du Lac County Jail on $5 million bond. He is currently scheduled to appear in court on July 31.