Complaint: Avoca man claims he was possessed prior to killing mom and dog

AVOCA, Wis. (WMTV) - An Avoca man claims he was “possessed” and heard voices in his head telling him to kill his mother and dog.

According to a complaint filed on Monday in Iowa County Circuit Court, Sean Pickett told investigators he blacked out, and thought he “was possessed” and “was hearing evil voices” in his head. He allegedly further said “there were people inside my head saying that once I kill them, that I will go to rest.”

The complaint states Pickett later beat his mom with a metal bar and stabbed her. He allegedly then beat the dog and stabbed it as well.

Pickett called police on May 10 saying his mom and dog were dead inside a home on Williams Street in Avoca. When police arrived, he allegedly said his mother’s boyfriend committed the crime, and he was tied up and held hostage. Police say, Pickett then admitted that never happened.

Pickett is being charged with First-Degree Intentional Homicide and Mistreatment of Animals. He faces life in prison on the homicide charge.

He appeared in an Iowa County Circuit Courtroom Monday afternoon. Pickett’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.

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