A Wisconsin man, Rudolf Knapp, has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, strangulation, battery, and disorderly conduct after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in Little Chute, Wisconsin.
Authorities say Knapp, 59, tried to strangle his girlfriend during a violent altercation that escalated late Sunday night.
The Disturbance and Arrest
On Sunday, at around 11:45 p.m., officers responded to a call about a disturbance at a home in Little Chute. The call came from the woman’s son, who reported that his mother was screaming for help and was being choked by an “unknown male.”
The dispatcher noted hearing a lot of screaming in the background, and the boy stopped responding to questions.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the woman holding a bag of frozen food to her right eye. She had a bloody mouth and red marks on her neck. Although she initially refused medical treatment in front of her son, she later went to the hospital, where she told police she wanted Knapp arrested to feel safe.
The Attack and Knapp’s Alleged Confession
The woman explained to police that she and Knapp had been arguing while eating gelato in bed. During the argument, Knapp allegedly climbed on top of her and began choking her. She stated that she couldn’t breathe or speak, and went “in and out of consciousness,” fearing for her life.
The woman’s son told police he heard the commotion from the bedroom and then saw a man—later identified as Knapp—on top of his mother. After confronting Knapp, the son saw him flee the scene in his Mercedes Benz.
While at the hospital, the woman gave police access to her phone. Knapp had sent her a series of texts, one of which read: “I have no idea how I lost control the way I did tonight. I am evil and sick.
There is no question in my mind of what I have to do now,” and “Thank you for one last good day.” These messages also included threats to take his own life.
Knapp’s Conflicting Story
Police later spoke to Knapp, who reported to the Outagamie Sheriff’s Office that he had been “drugged and assaulted.” During questioning, Knapp claimed he acted in self-defense, saying he was “so tired of being hurt by everybody.”
He told officers that the woman had given him hydroxyzine to help with his anxiety and that, later that night, she allegedly began “swinging” a box cutter or razor blade at him while screaming about custody issues. Knapp claimed he had no choice but to strangle her because she was “going to kill him.”
Knapp further alleged that the woman had put Xanax in a soda she gave him. However, police noted that the cuts on his body did not align with his story and appeared to be self-inflicted. Knapp admitted to having mental health issues and referred to himself as “a monster,” acknowledging his violent reaction.
Legal Proceedings
Knapp is currently in custody at the Outagamie County Jail, being held on a $500,000 cash bond. He appeared in court on Tuesday, but his next court appearance has not yet been scheduled.
