A quiet South Milwaukee neighborhood was shaken last month when police discovered a tragic case that has now turned into a homicide investigation. A 15-year-old boy from Wisconsin has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his grandmother, 68-year-old Elizabeth Totsky.
Authorities said the incident began on August 27, when South Milwaukee police and emergency responders rushed to Totsky’s home. Fire personnel were already attempting to revive her when officers arrived, according to WITI. She was transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries four days later.
Initially, the teenager called 911 and told dispatchers that his grandmother had collapsed in the kitchen after suffering a seizure. However, an autopsy later revealed a very different story: the medical examiner determined that Totsky died from strangulation, citing hemorrhages and fractures in her neck.
The teen, identified by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as Edward Barbara, was arrested last week. Although juvenile authorities initially withheld his name, prosecutors confirmed Monday that he would be tried as an adult.
Investigators uncovered disturbing details during their inquiry. Police said Totsky’s husband told them this was not the first time Barbara had attacked his grandmother. Roughly two months earlier, he reportedly snuck up behind her, placed her in a chokehold, and rendered her unconscious. She later confided to her husband that she awoke to find her grandson standing over her.
According to WISN, when confronted with the autopsy findings, Barbara admitted to strangling his grandmother. He allegedly confessed to putting her in a chokehold from behind, using his right arm and elbow to cut off her breathing for nearly five minutes.
On Monday, Barbara appeared in court, where he was formally charged as an adult. The judge ordered him held on a $100,000 bond as the case moves forward.
The tragic killing has left the community grappling with questions about mental health, family safety, and how a teenager could commit such a violent act within his own household. Prosecutors say the case underscores the importance of addressing domestic violence—even when the threat comes from inside the family.