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Inset: Sebastian Van Stockum (New Canaan Police). Background: Home in New Canaan, Connecticut, where Van Stockum allegedly killed his mother (WFSB).
A tragic incident unfolded in Connecticut where a young man, aged 20, is accused of brutally killing his mother using a knife, hammer, and his bare hands. Following the act, he placed a call to 911, confessing to the crime but expressing confusion over his motives.
The accused, Sebastian Van Stockum, is now facing murder charges related to the death of his 55-year-old mother, which occurred at their New Canaan residence on a Friday. Authorities have yet to disclose her identity. As detailed in a probable cause affidavit obtained by CBS affiliate WFSB, police were dispatched shortly after 10:30 p.m. to a home on Gerdes Road after reports of a man shouting “mama” from the woods.
Concurrently, Van Stockum contacted 911 to admit to the killing of his mother, according to Fox affiliate WITC.
“I want to turn myself in,” he was heard saying through tears. “I just killed my mom, and I don’t know why I did it.”
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim lying a short distance from the driveway, surrounded by a pool of blood. A hammer, stained with blood, was reportedly found near her head.
Van Stockum came out of the home wearing a T-shirt and pajama pants that were reportedly covered in blood. Cops took him into custody.
“I did it,” he allegedly said as cops took him to a police cruiser. “I took my mom’s life.”
A paramedic heard him say “I deserve to suffer,” the affidavit reportedly stated. Van Stockum also said he was having mental health problems.
He reportedly went on to tell police that he used a knife, hammer and his fists during the attack. His mug shot showed him with several scratches on his face, suggesting that his mother may have fought for her life. Police have not divulged a motive for the attack.
“This was an especially violent murder. The victim was found bludgeoned to death with extreme trauma to their skull,” Norwalk Judicial District State’s Attorney Paul Ferencek told a judge during the defendant’s arraignment.
The defendant is in jail on a $2 million bond. His defense attorney, Philip Russell, described the incident as a “terrible shock.”
“Nobody anticipated this or foresaw this. At this point, there’s an awful lot of loose ends,” Russell told reporters. “All I can say is it would be premature for anyone to rush to judgment. Obviously, this is a tragic situation.”
Van Stockum is slated to next appear in court on Monday.