Crime
15-Year-Old Racine County Teen Charged with First-Degree Homicide After Admitting to Killing His Mother
A 15-year-old boy from Racine County, Wisconsin, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide after allegedly stabbing his mother to death, claiming he was inspired by the infamous Menendez brothers, according to prosecutors.
Reed R. Gelinskey was formally charged Thursday by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office following the brutal killing, which occurred Tuesday night at his family home in the 10000 block of White Manor Court in Caledonia.
Law enforcement officers arrived at the residence around 10:30 p.m. in response to a report of a homicide.
As officers approached, Gelinskey allegedly dropped a knife in front of them and immediately confessed to the killing, stating:
“She is dead… She is dead from what I did.”
According to court documents, Gelinskey also pleaded with officers to kill him at the scene.
The victim, identified as Suzann Glinskey, was later pronounced dead.
During an interview with investigators, Gelinskey reportedly admitted that he had been planning to kill both of his parents. He described feeling overwhelmed with depression and an “urge” to commit the crime upon returning home from school that day.
As detailed in the complaint, Gelinskey had been consuming his brother’s anxiety medication for a month.
On the night of the attack, he allegedly took nine pills, claiming they did not alleviate his anxiety but instead made him feel high.
While watching a Netflix documentary about Lyle and Erik Menendez, the famed brothers convicted of murdering their parents in Beverly Hills in 1989, Gelinskey told detectives that he became particularly fixated on the dramatized shotgun scene depicting the killings. He allegedly decided at that moment to follow through with his own plan.
Court records state that Gelinskey initially planned to kill his father but struggled to find a hammer large enough for the attack.
After dinner, while his mother sat on the couch using her computer, he continued watching the Menendez documentary, further solidifying his plan.
At approximately 9:50 p.m., Gelinskey’s mother went upstairs, prompting him to hide his sleeping medication before retrieving a steak knife, which he concealed in his pocket.
He also allegedly hid a dumbbell bar inside the sleeve of his sweatshirt.
When his mother came back downstairs to help him search for the missing medication, Gelinskey allegedly waited until her back was turned before striking her twice in the head with the dumbbell bar.
He later admitted to investigators that he expected her to collapse, but when she didn’t, he threw her to the ground and grabbed the knife.
According to the complaint, his mother fought back, attempting to kick him away, but he ultimately stabbed her three times in the chest and twice in the neck. Before she succumbed to her injuries, she reportedly asked him “Why?”, to which he responded, “Pain.”
Following the attack, Gelinskey allegedly contacted a friend via Snapchat and asked her to call the police.
He remained at the scene, waiting inside the home until he heard approaching sirens. Once emergency responders arrived, he walked outside and was immediately taken into custody.
During his first court appearance on Thursday, bail was set at $1 million. If convicted, Gelinskey faces a mandatory life sentence.
CONWAY, AR — One of the victims fatally shot during Sunday’s mass shooting at Fifth Avenue Park has been identified as Tatayana Penister, according to officials.
The deadly incident, which unfolded during a gathering at the park, claimed two lives and left nine others wounded.
Witness accounts and emotional social media posts have begun to shed light on the chaos and heartbreak experienced by those at the scene.
Latashia Winzer, a bystander who said she was with Tatayana when the shooting occurred, shared a powerful and emotional plea online, recounting her desperate efforts to save Penister’s life.
“I wish y’all would’ve helped when I begged for it,” Winzer wrote. “I wish I didn’t get tired. I wish my arms didn’t go weak. She did not want to die—she didn’t deserve to die. I swear I wish I could’ve done more. Y’all dead wrong.”
Winzer said she performed CPR on Penister until she could no longer continue, expressing deep sorrow and frustration over what she perceived as a lack of immediate assistance from authorities.
“Police didn’t do anything but stand over us. I begged for help,” she said. “She held on for so long. I’m praying so hard for her mom. My heart hurts. No mother deserves to get a call like this.”
The shooting took place around Fifth Avenue Park in Conway on Sunday evening, where large crowds had gathered.
Police said multiple 911 calls were received as shots rang out, triggering a swift emergency response.
Video captured during the event shows people fleeing in panic as gunfire erupted.
As of Monday, the nine individuals injured in the shooting were reported to be in stable condition after being transported to nearby hospitals.
The identity of the second deceased victim has not yet been released.
Conway Police have not released information about potential suspects or a motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at 501-450-6130. Callers may speak with any available detective. If the line is not answered, officials request that a message be left, and someone will return the call.
“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” the Conway Police Department stated. “We ask the public to avoid the area while our officers continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.”
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.