Left: Neilyann Ysam (Portland Police Bureau). Right: S Mate Joseph during his arraignment in Clark County (via KATU).
A young mother, who had sought safety in Oregon with her family to evade domestic violence, was reportedly killed by the man she had escaped from.
Disturbing information regarding the tragic fate of 24-year-old Neilyann Ysam, found dead from stab wounds in Portland, Oregon on July 19, has been unveiled in new court records accessed by local ABC affiliate KATU.
A press release from the Portland Police Bureau confirmed Ysam was in the home with her five children, all of whom were unharmed and removed safely.
According to the court documents, it was Ysam”s 4-year-old daughter who called 911, telling dispatchers, “My dad killed my mom.”
Authorities reported the arrest of 28-year-old S Mate Joseph on July 22, who was initially jailed in Clark County, Washington, and later transferred to Multnomah County, Oregon.
Joseph and Ysam’s relationship reportedly included a violent past dating back to 2019, where he admitted to assaulting Ysam during her pregnancy, as noted by KATU. This outlet also recalled accounts of that 2019 event in Vancouver, Washington, highlighting that Ysam was found “barefoot, screaming, crying and trying to flee” from Joseph.
Two witnesses to the previous incident awaited law enforcement outside their dwelling when they were approached by Joseph’s 16-year-old brother, who allegedly wielded a knife and issued threats, KATU reported at the time. The teenager defied police commands and was fatally shot by an officer, while Joseph was subdued with a taser and detained.
Joseph was sentenced to 11 days in jail after pleading guilty to assault in fourth degree, harassment, and jumping bail.
Six years later, court documents stated that Ysam had fled to Portland to escape Joseph and was living with an aunt when the final incident occurred.
Aside from the 4-year-old’s 911 call, Joseph reportedly made his own call, admitting to dispatchers that he had stabbed a “loved one” and was uncertain if they survived. Allegedly, he then left the site, abandoning Ysam to bleed to death while nearly five young children, all below six years of age, remained in the home.
Joseph was extradited and booked into Multnomah County Jail. He entered a plea of not guilty to second-degree murder and burglary during a court appearance on Thursday.
The children were taken into custody by family, KATU reported.
