MILWAUKEE, WI – A Milwaukee woman was tragically killed in her backyard, allegedly by her own daughter, according to court records. The daughter, 29-year-old Lauren Spores, is in custody, accused of assaulting and murdering her mother, Carrie Zettl, at their Southside home.
The incident unfolded when Zettl, 64, left a voicemail for her friend, Loretta Moyer, early in the morning, expressing fear for her safety. Zettl reported that her daughter was outside, throwing rocks and trying to break into the house.
Just 12 hours later, police responded to a 911 call from Zettl, who reported her daughter’s violent behavior. Officers arrived to find Zettl dead in the backyard, allegedly beaten with a rock.
Spores was found at the scene with blood on her clothing and was promptly arrested. The tragic incident has left the community in shock.
This event is not the first sign of trouble. In 2018, Zettl had obtained a restraining order against her daughter, fearing potential harm. The order was violated multiple times, but each case was dismissed due to Spores being found incompetent to stand trial.
Documents reveal that after one such incident involving a rock thrown through a window, Spores was taken to a mental health facility. The duration of her stay remains unclear.
Moyer expressed frustration over the situation, questioning why preventive measures were not more effective. Spores now faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide.
The restraining order against Spores expired in 2022, leaving many to wonder if more could have been done to prevent this tragedy.