Hamilton homicide: ‘creepy’ screams before woman died

WARNING: ANNOYING CONTENT

A Hamilton woman was outside smoking a cigarette when a series of “creepy” screams tore through the night.

It would be the beginning of a night of terror for those involved and the neighbors who rushed to help when a child repeated the heartbreaking words: “My mom is dead.”

Just after 11 p.m. yesterday, in the Nawton suburb of Hamilton, neighbors reported hearing screaming, banging and banging coming from a property near the top of the street.

The woman, a neighbor, said she heard another woman scream and then a new series of screams – the voice of a small child.

“I ran and heard her yelling, ‘Help, help! My mom is dead.’

A man was then seen leaving the house, getting into a vehicle and driving away.

The woman was already on the phone with police by then, she said, and approached the property to see if she could help.

“I went to the door and I could hear a woman who was not the (first) woman I heard.

“There was a lot of blood. I ran back home and grabbed my first aid kit.”

The second woman was older and is believed to be the man’s mother, he said.

“It was cut, he had a cut on his arm. He was bleeding profusely. The woman and children were covered in blood.”

The neighbor said at least three other people she believed to be neighbors were at the home trying to help the seriously injured woman when she returned with her first aid kit.

The children’s mother was not well.

“I could see his feet. There was a lot of blood.

“I was quite aware from the beginning … when (the paramedics) didn’t get her out that she was too lost.”

The woman said relatives arrived at the scene just before emergency services and quickly gathered the two children in a car, where they remained at least two hours later.

‘My mom is dead’

The girl, who she assumed was about three years old, was very shocked.

“She kept repeating it: ‘My mom is dead, my mom is dead, my mom is dead.’

The woman, who has lived on the streets for the past few months, said she didn’t have much to do with the family, just offering a greeting or two or throwing a fumble at the children.

She said that in addition to the two children who were on the scene last night, two elementary-age children regularly stayed at the property.

But they weren’t there last night, he said.

A 34-year-old man was charged this morning with murder and wounding with the intent to cause serious bodily harm.

He must appear in Hamilton District Court and police say they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the matter.

Officers stand in a scene guard in two directions.