One of their young children, a three-year-old boy, was in his mother’s arms while his ex-wife was battered, choked, and left for dead in a pool of blood. A Minnesota attorney has been accused of killing his ex-wife in front of his young children.
For the murder of his ex-wife Carissa, Anders Odegaard, 31, is being held in detention.
The pair wed in 2011 but filed for divorce in 2021, claiming there had been a “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” in court filings.
Tuesday, Carissa was found unconscious in a doorway next to the dining room after police were called to Anders’ house in Warren, Minnesota.
Around 5 o’clock, Anders, who was just wearing his boxers, erupted into a passion and started assaulting the woman as she went to gather the couple’s five children for church.
The couple’s nine-year-old son hurried from the house to a neighbouring roadway to signal a driver to stop. The driver visited the house, discovered Carissa there unconscious, and dialled 911.
According to a distressing police report obtained by DailyMail.com, the older kid and his younger brother, who is eight years old, witnessed the incident.
The person the boys flagged down told authorities that their mother was severely bleeding and needed assistance.
He spoke with the older of the two boys, who reported that his mother was inside the home, bleeding severely on the floor. The boy claimed that he believed she had passed away.
He asked the youngster who was inside, and the boy said that his dad and mother were there.
Anders was asked to leave the house by police.
He emerged from the kitchen area while still wearing only his grey boxer briefs.
According to the police complaint against him, “He saw he had what appeared to be blood smeared over his left eyebrow and blood in his hair.”
All he would say to police when they asked him what had happened was, “I don’t feel right.”
The young child remained silent. Because his mother was holding him during the assault, he did witness what transpired.
Inside, close to the dining room table, detectives discovered Carissa lying on the ground.
She described the woman as having major head damage, not breathing, and blood pooling by her head on the floor.
The mother’s car was parked in the driveway with their four-year-old sister and six-year-old brother inside.
In his mother’s arms was the three-year-old, who celebrated his birthday in June.
When authorities attempted to interrogate him later, he remained mute.
The young child remained silent. Because his mother was holding him during the assault, he did witness what happened, according to the police report.
When the authorities spoke with the two elder sons, they admitted to seeing their father strike their mother in the past.
Before Carissa filed for divorce in 2021, the pair had been wed for ten years.
Their terrible debt is revealed in the divorce filings; Anders had various credit cards with a combined sum of $32,750, a Lending Club Loan of $22,650, and $103,000 in college loans.
Additionally, Carissa had two credit cards from Target and Old Navy, each with an outstanding balance of $5,590. They each owed $30,000 on their combined credit cards.
Carissa’s family is currently holding a fundraiser to aid with funeral expenses and child care.
This terrible event won’t go unnoticed in our neighbourhood.
The statement read, “Carissa’s mom’s friends, community, and family will mourn her greatly and hope that this will help to commemorate her name.”
The account, which can be viewed here, has now raised more than $28,000.
Anna, Carissa’s sister, revealed to the local ABC affiliate WDAY that she had rebuilt her life after splitting with her ex.
She committed herself in all of their needs after divorcing her ex-husband, and I witnessed her establish a beautiful life for herself and her children.
She complimented each of their personalities and provided them with the tools they needed to succeed, all the while encouraging them to pursue their individual passions, the speaker stated.