Alaska – In a chilling event in Alaska, a 43-year-old mother, identified as C. Sarten, has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of her 5-year-old son. Sarten, who stands accused of taking the life of her own child in a harrowing manner, crushed her child’s head with a 20-pound weight and then called the boy’s father to tell him about the horrific act.
Late in the evening of October 13, the police department responded to a dire situation that unfolded in a local home. The emergency unfolded after Sarten contacted her ex-husband, R. Gagner, with distressing voicemails suggesting something terrible had happened. “This is really bad you seriously need to come over here right now,” Sarten communicated in one message, followed by the shocking admission, “Please don’t freak out. We don’t have a son no more.”
Upon arrival, officers discovered a gruesome scene. Sarten’s young son was found deceased, having suffered from fatal injuries inflicted with a 20-pound “kettle ball”-style weight. The severity of the attack did not end with the blunt force trauma; the child had also been subjected to knife wounds post-mortem, adding a layer of brutality to the already horrific act.
Sarten, who later attempted to take her own life, was overwhelmed with injuries herself when she finally called authorities the following day to report the incident. Her initial claim was that an accident had occurred, suggesting her son had “crashed” his brain with the weight, but later admitted to the deliberate act during police questioning. The distressing nature of her admission was compounded by her request for the officers to end her life, as she proclaimed her guilt.
The investigation quickly revealed a disturbing history of mental instability and previous criminal behavior by Sarten, including a 2022 incident where she was convicted for recklessly endangering her son by aggressively twisting his head when he was just over a year old.
Authorities pieced together the events leading to the tragic day, noting that Sarten had fetched a knife and contemplated her actions while her son waited outside. According to her statement to the police, a struggle ensued when she attempted to execute her plan, ultimately resulting in the boy’s death from multiple injuries, including a significant stab wound that was confirmed to have been inflicted postmortem.
This violent act has left the community and especially the boy’s family devastated. Gagner, dealing with unimaginable grief, described his late son as a bright and loving child, whose life was full of joy and innocence, often spent enjoying simple pleasures like cheese pizza, popsicles, and outdoor activities.
Sarten was hospitalized following the incident and remains under medical care. Her court appearance is pending as the legal process continues to unfold. The case has profoundly impacted local law enforcement and the community, with Public Information Officer T. Soden remarking on the rarity and horrific nature of such a case. Meanwhile, the community has rallied around Gagner, setting up a GoFundMe to support funeral expenses and cope with the tragic loss. As this painful story continues to develop, the focus remains on justice for the young victim and support for those left to mourn the senseless and tragic loss of a child whose life was cut tragically short.
