Irena Roszak was in bed when two intruders allegedly broke into her home in tiny Radisson, Wis., early Sunday.
Awakened, the 93-year-old had little chance of defending herself against what authorities called a "satanic thrill killing" that left her dead from 15 stab wounds, including one to the heart.
On Friday, Sawyer County Chief Deputy Tim Zeigle painted a horrific picture of the incident after the arrest of two suspects Thursday.
"The pair had set off from a residence in Radisson for the specific purpose of murdering someone," Zeigle told the News Tribune, adding the duo first targeted another home but were scared off.
Christopher Lee Roalson, 27, of Radisson, who also has roots in Mankato, Minn., was arrested Thursday afternoon in Sarona, about 30 miles west of Radisson.
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That evening, Roalson's 15-year-old co-defendant, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was picked up in Radisson.
A health-care worker found Roszak's body in her home Tuesday morning. Sawyer County Sheriff James Meier said Roszak apparently had fought back against her attackers. She died from a wound to her heart, Zeigle said.
The break in the case came when an acquaintance of Roalson's told authorities that Roalson had talked about participating in the murder, Zeigle said. The two knives used in the homicide have been recovered, he said.
Roalson and the 15-year-old are being held on charges of first-degree intentional homicide. Formal charges are expected within 10 days, and bond for each has been set at $1 million.
"There was talk of the devil and God during the homicide," Zeigle said of information obtained through a full statement from the 15-year-old.
After his arrest, Roalson initially indicated that he was involved, Zeigle said. He then requested a lawyer and the interview was terminated.
"Roalson is the self-proclaimed son of Satan," Zeigle said of a comment made during the interviews.
The suspects apparently met for the first time only the night before the killing, Zeigle said. They had initially targeted a Radisson couple, he said, but upon arriving at the couple's residence were scared off by a motion light. Then they went to the Roszak residence and forced entry.
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Roszak's home was chosen because Roalson knew the victim's grandson and was familiar with it, Zeigle said.
Roalson's grandmother, Sharon Stiles of Lake Crystal, Minn., near Mankato, said Roalson was not a "vicious person."
"I just can't see him doing something like that," she said. "He's kind, he's loving, he's compassionate. When he was living down here, he would sit and read the Bible. [He] and I and his grandpa would have a lot of talks about God."
Stiles, who said she last talked to Roalson about a month ago, said he'd never before had a problem with violence.
Wisconsin Circuit Court records detail numerous charges against Roalson in Sawyer, Dunn and Washburn counties dating from 2000 to 2007, but none for violent crimes. The records show two counts of theft, three counts of jumping bail, two counts of possession of THC, two counts of resisting an officer, two counts of disorderly conduct and several traffic matters. In 2007, he was charged in Sawyer County four times -- five counts total -- with issuing worthless checks.
Roalson also was charged for driving under the influence of alcohol in Blue Earth County in Minnesota in 2007 and 2008.
Kevin Lindblad lives two doors down from Roalson, but said he has never spoken to him. His son used to mow Roszak's lawn.
"It's pretty wild, what happened, especially in a town of 222," said Lindblad, who has lived in Radisson for five years. "It's not supposed to happen here."
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Radisson's last homicide -- the result of a bar fight, Zeigle said -- occurred about a decade ago.
