Cash bond ordered for Plover man accused of stabbing mother

By Brandi Makuski

A 29-year-old Plover man is being held behind bars after he reportedly told police he stabbed and killed his mother on Saturday morning.

Matthew Tomkowiak was arrested on April 24 after Plover police were called to a residence on the 2400 block of Crescent Dr. at 8:32 a.m. A caller told dispatchers a man at the home was threatening to kill his mother with a knife, according to the incident report.

Tomkowiak appeared for his bond hearing on Monday by video from the Portage Co. Jail before Court Commissioner Melissa Dalkert with his attorney, Max Bergner. District Attorney Louis Molepske, Jr. represented the State.

Molepske said that upon arrival, officers found a man, later identified as Tomkowiak, outside the home wearing shorts and a hoodie, who told police he killed his mother by stabbing her in the kitchen.

Tomkowiak began to disrobe and told officers he was taking his clothes off to prove he was not armed. Officers told him to keep his clothes on, determined he was not armed and placed him in handcuffs.

Tomkowiak told officers, “I told you what I did, I killed her. There’s no way she’s alive. I stabbed her in the heart.”

Upon entering the home, officers found two adult women. The victim was Tomkowiak’s 55-year-old mother “lying in the fetal position on the floor with active blood coming from her chest area and stomach area,” Molepske said.

The woman was responsive and told police Tomkowiak stabbed her in the chest and stomach “at least four times,” and stabbed her arms and legs more than a dozen times.

Molepske said Tomkowiak was playing a puzzle game earlier in the day and had asked the two women not to touch the puzzle or “he would kill them if they did.” After returning to that area of the home from his bedroom basement, he took the knife from the drawer and stabbed his mother, believing she had touched the puzzle pieces, Molepske said.

The woman was able to describe the attack, including the kind of knife that was used, which police later found in the kitchen sink. Tomkowiak later described the same knife to police, admitting he’d taken it from a drawer in the kitchen.

The mother was transported by ambulance to a Wausau trauma center for treatment of what Molepske described as “significant injuries.”

But it’s a complicated case, Molpske said. During an interview with police, Tomkowiak waived his rights and said, “she should be dead now.” Tomkowiak was able to relay the events of his day, beginning when he awoke that morning. But he also told officers he’d been “angry and upset,” and those emotions had been building for some time.

“Ultimately, that’s why he stabbed her,” Molepske said.

Molepske asked for a $25,000 cash bond and a no-contact order with the victim or her address. Another condition of Tomkowiak’s bond included not possessing any dangerous weapons.

It’s Tomkowiak’s first offense and he had been living in a group home setting, Molepske said—adding his office was notified that Tomkowiak had previously been diagnosed with a number of mental health conditions, and previously was under the care of a doctor.

But Tomkowiak also made statements while in police custody indicating he was suicidal and had access to firearms in the basement of his family’s home. Because of the risk to Tomkowiak and others, Dalkert agreed to the high cash bond.

“It’s clear there’s a significant risk to this individual as well as this community, so I will set a $25,000 cash bond,” she said.

Portage Co. also intends to begin proceedings for a civil commitment, known as a “Chapter 51” commitment. Corporation Counsel David Ray appeared in court to explain his office was waiting for some paperwork before beginning the proceedings, but he told Dalkert there was a bed available for Tomkowiak at a local secure mental health facility.

The victim, Tomkowiak’s mother, made a statement during the hearing via phone, asking the court for leniency.

“I would like the court to know I just want him to get help. He’s a very good boy. I don’t believe he would intentionally ever hurt me,” she said. “I love Matt, I want him in my life, but I know he needs somebody to help him right now. This is his first offense and he has never hurt anybody. My wounds will heal; if this gets him the help he needs, it’s well worth it.”

Molepske said his office intends to charge Tomkowiak with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and first-degree reckless injury.

An initial appearance was not immediately scheduled.