Inset: Sarah Riste (Wesminster (Colo.) Police Dept.). Background: The neighborhood where Sarah Riste allegedly killed her mother (Google Maps).
A woman in Colorado is in police custody after allegedly stabbing her mother to death and leaving her body covered in blankets at the end of a hallway inside a home — apparently while a small child was present.
Sarah Riste, 37, was arrested on Sunday, Sept. 28, in connection with the stabbing death of her mother, Westminster police announced on Facebook. The Denver Post, citing an arrest affidavit, identified the victim as 64-year-old Kathy Johnson.
According to authorities, officers responded at around 2 p.m. to a report of an unspecified “disturbance.” The Denver Post reported that Riste told officers she was the one who made the call.
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Once at the home, officers spoke with Riste, as well as “a child who [was] also at the residence.” The child”s age was not provided. According to The Denver Post, Riste and the small child were sitting on the steps outside the home when police arrived. The suspect’s shirt was reportedly covered in blood and she had blood on her hands.
“After further investigation, detectives determined Riste was the suspect,” the statement said. She was then taken into custody.
According to The Denver Post, Riste did not provide many details to police, other than telling them that there had been an accident inside the home and giving them permission to enter the residence. Once inside the house, officers reportedly said they noticed a large amount of blood on the walls, and the victim’s body was allegedly under several blankets on the floor at the end of a hallway.
Johnson’s body showed “visible signs of trauma,” according to officials. Law enforcement noted that the victim was already deceased when officers arrived.
The arrest affidavit noted that Riste told investigators that she had been subjected to years of emotional abuse and that she had grabbed a knife from the kitchen during a fight with her mother.
Riste had been seen yelling at the child outside and telling them not to speak, The Denver Post reported. The child is believed to be hers.
According to investigators, the child said “something to the effect of: mom stabbed grandma, mom is going to jail, grandma is dead and now I don’t have anyone,” The Denver Post reported, citing the affidavit.
“The child was safely turned over to Child Protective Services,” police noted.
Court records show that Riste is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday.
