Waukesha Man Who Stabbed 4 Family Members Ordered Committed

WAUKESHA, WI—A man who was convicted of a stabbing incident that left two women dead in the Town of Waukesha received a lifetime commitment on Monday in Waukesha County Court.

Adam Roth, 36, of Waukesha, was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in the attack, which authorities said was linked to his concerns about coronavirus. He told a detective the day after the stabbing that coronavirus “was coming and I had to save them," according to an Associated Press report.

Roth was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of attempted homicide, as well as first-degree recklessly endangering safety and mistreatment of animals-causing death for his role in a March 10 double murder.

Roth pleaded guilty but not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in November to the first four counts as part of a plea agreement. The reckless endangerment and mistreatment of an animal charges were dismissed but read into the court record, according to online court records.

Authorities said Adam Roth fatally stabbed Dominique Roth, a 34 year-old woman, and Deidre Popanda, a 26-year-old woman, on the night of March 10. Authorities also say a 36-year-old woman and a 62-year-old woman were injured and transported by ambulance to area hospitals after being stabbed by Roth.

Authorities were sent to the area of Oak Grove Lane and Green Country Road in Waukesha just before 7 p.m., on March 10. During a press conference held on the night of the stabbing, Sheriff Eric Severson delivered what details he could about the incident.

"The call came in led us to believe there was an ongoing domestic disturbance call. We had a lot of dead air on the call and we also had some remarks that led us to believe that there might be a stabbing in progress," Severson said. "Deputies responded immediately, and when they arrived at the scene we found that there were four, victims in a stabbing incident, and an adult male suspect."

Severson said they arrested Adam Roth was still at the scene by the time deputies arrived.

Reporting and writing from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Patch reporter Scott Anderson contributed to this report.