MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Authorities are investigating the death of a 64-year-old woman found at her home on the city’s south side on Sunday, October 12, in what police are describing as a violent incident. Throughout the afternoon, law enforcement and forensic teams surrounded the residence near South 23rd Street and West Ramsey Avenue, marking the scene as part of a growing homicide investigation.
According to preliminary findings, the victim died following an assault involving a stone. While police have not publicly identified the woman, close friends at the scene said she was Carrie Zettel, a longtime neighborhood resident. Friends Susan Henderson-Hoffman and her daughter Loretta Moyer described Zettel as family, recalling her kindness and the role she played in their lives. “She was always there for us,” Moyer said tearfully. “She’d take me to work, join us for Thanksgiving and Christmas—it was always just us three.”
Later that evening, authorities confirmed a 29-year-old woman had been taken into custody in connection with the case. Henderson-Hoffman and Moyer said they were told the person detained was Zettel’s daughter, though police have not yet confirmed her identity pending formal charges. Public records show that a woman matching that description had a history of mental health and legal troubles, including restraining order violations and prior findings of incompetence to stand trial.
Friends said Zettel’s death came after years of escalating concerns. Moyer revealed that Zettel had left a voicemail around 3:53 a.m. on Sunday, saying she was frightened because her daughter was trying to get into her home. “Police came and found her hiding outside but she ran off,” Zettel reportedly said in the message. Neighbors told reporters that officers had visited the home multiple times before for domestic disturbances. “Do you know how strange it is to know exactly where the sirens will stop?” Henderson-Hoffman said.
By early afternoon, the area around Zettel’s home was filled with police vehicles, forensic vans, and investigators. Henderson-Hoffman said she stepped outside when she heard sirens again and immediately sensed the situation was different. “There were too many police this time,” she said. Officers later told her the incident had occurred in the backyard. “She didn’t deserve this,” she said quietly. “She was a kind woman who cared deeply for others.”
Friends and neighbors remembered Carrie Zettel as a devoted mother, grandmother, and community figure who often watched over neighborhood children. “She treated all of them like family,” Moyer said. Both women expressed heartbreak and frustration, saying the tragedy highlights failures within the system. “She was afraid and kept asking for help,” Henderson-Hoffman said. “The system let her down.” Authorities continue to investigate, and formal charges are expected soon as the community mourns a woman remembered for her warmth and compassion.