Burnsville Man Killed, Dismembered His 82-Year-Old Mother: Police

BURNSVILLE, MN — A Burnsville man has been charged in the fatal stabbing and dismemberment of his 82-year-old mother, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced Monday.

Troy Michael Mitteness, 56, faces one count of second-degree intentional murder. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.

"The facts alleged in this case make it one of the most horrific and disturbing cases I've experienced in the course of my 34-year career," Keena said in a statement.

"I wish to thank the Burnsville Police Department for their doggedness into the investigation of the disappearance of Ms. Mitteness without which this case may have gone unsolved. My deepest sympathy is extended to the other family members and friends of Ms. Mitteness for their great loss."

Mitteness made his first court appearance Monday and bail was set in the amount of $2,000,000.

Last month, Burnsville police launched a mail theft investigation into Mitteness. Money from several mail thefts had been deposited into an account belonging to the man's mother, Sandra Viola Mitteness, according to police.

Officers asked Mitteness about his mother's whereabouts so they could question her about the deposits into her account. Mitteness initially told police she was in Milbank, South Dakota but then said she had died, according to the criminal complaint.

Police found an obituary for Sandra at Mitteness' residence that stated she died on June 14, 2022, authorities said.

Officers also found information for a funeral home, but the funeral home denied ever providing post-mortem care or funeral-related services for Sandra, the criminal complaint states.

Police interviewed several family members who said they believed Sandra died in the past year. Mitteness told relatives that Sandra was injured after falling down stairs, the criminal complaint states.

When family members asked about seeing her in the hospital, Mitteness said Sandra had COVID-19 and could not have visitors, according to authorities. Mitteness later told them she died, the criminal complaint states.

Police tracked down Sandra's car, which had been sold. The new owner allowed officers to examine the car, and an alternative light source gave indications of the presence of blood in the trunk, the criminal complaint states.

Officers then found similar indications of blood at Mitteness' home on July 6, 2023, investigators said, including a mattress and box spring that had large dark red stains.

During a police interview, Mitteness admitted to killing his mother because he had spent all of her money and she was becoming suspicious, according to the criminal complaint.

Mitteness further admitted he killed his mother on June 2, 2022, in his Burnsville home by stabbing her in the neck with a large kitchen knife, authorities said. He dismembered her body and placed her body parts in different large plastic tote bins that he had in his garage, according to the criminal complaint.

He then drove with the bins in his car from Burnsville toward Appleton, Minnesota, and threw body parts into the ditch as he drove, authorities said.