Edwina Marie Stoutenburgh (Pennington County Sheriff’s Office).
A Minnesota woman allegedly told police that two demons forced her to perform several grotesque acts, including slitting her son’s throat.
Edwina Marie Stoutenburgh, 34, was arrested on Sunday after authorities responded to a hectic situation at her residence in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. An arrest affidavit obtained by local NBC affiliate KVLY states that officers from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Stoutenburgh household following reports that a child’s throat had been slashed. Stoutenburgh was found outside, partially clothed, and was immediately handcuffed.
According to police, Stoutenburgh told the deputies, “Don’t take them off.”
The call to authorities was made by Stoutenburgh’s husband, who explained that he was at work when his wife contacted him, allegedly claiming that “they” had overpowered her and were urging her to harm their children.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that the “they” Stoutenburgh referred to were allegedly two demons named “Bondage” and “Infirmity.” As per police reports, Stoutenburgh claimed she awoke on Sunday morning to auditory hallucinations, which she could not control. On that same day, she allegedly informed police that the demons, responsible for the voices, “took over” and compelled her to engage in bizarre behaviors, including consuming dog feces.
Stoutenburgh allegedly told police that the demons also made her cut off the head of a pet duck the family had recently euthanized, cut the severed head open, and eat one of the duck’s eyes. Police reportedly found the duck’s severed head on a cutting board in the kitchen with a bloody spoon next to it.
Police reportedly said that Stoutenburgh told them that the demons purportedly wanted her to drink her son’s blood and kill the rest of her children. “They” also wanted her to kill her husband when he returned from work. While Stoutenburgh reportedly told police that she did not want to hurt her children, she claimed that the demons forced her to do it.
According to KVLY’s reporting on the court documents, Stoutenburgh went to her son’s bedroom while he was sleeping. She allegedly told police that she rolled the boy over, pulled his head back, and then attempted to slit his throat with the knife. But she claimed the knife was too dull and could not slice through the skin. Stoutenburgh reportedly claimed that the demons told her to go back and sharpen the knife, which she did, but did not end up going back to the boy’s room.
Meanwhile, Stoutenburgh’s other children were reportedly witnesses to their mother’s alleged behavior, and Stoutenburgh told police that the demons would not allow her to drop the knife. She allegedly told the children to take the keys to the family’s vehicle and drive away because she was going to kill them.
In a press release, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said that the boy Stoutenburgh allegedly attacked had non-life-threatening injuries. Stoutenburgh was taken to the emergency room after being taken into custody at the home.
Stoutenburgh was charged with attempted second-degree murder without intent and second-degree assault. She is being held at the Pennington County Jail without bond. Her first court appearance is scheduled for July 28.
