Are you okay? He He was choking you. Is Where'd he go? Do you know? Outside. >> Why are you here? You're beating up your mother. That's why we're here. Have you always had a black eye or no? No. >> Did he hit you in the face? >> Several. >> Several times. >> Knock it off. Give me a lawyer. >> Michigan police respond to a quiet neighborhood after receiving a frantic 911 call from an elderly lady claiming her own son is trying to kill her. What they encounter is a drunk and belligerent man unwilling to go quietly and too far gone to recall the violence he's unleashed. >> Do you remember putting your hands around her throat? >> No, I did. The following is based on official police records, and the footage has never been seen before until now. On the night of July 27th, 2024, deputies with the Ross Common County Sheriff's Office are dispatched to a home in Denton Township, Michigan, when 95-year-old Clara Mo calls them in distress. However, dispatch appears to be having a hard time understanding her over the phone. >> Central, do we have an address of the neighbors where that male subject went to? >> Negative. Again, we're having a hard time communicating with her. I'm sure if it's a cell phone service or if it's the injury. >> Wonder if this lady is just losing it. That's good. Beats up a 95year-old woman. >> Minutes later, deputies reach the quiet residence. Still unsure of exactly what they're about to walk into. >> Just go on route. Locked. Can't go. >> Locked. At least they're connected. Follow me this way. Sheriff's department. Sheriff's department. Am I in here? Sheriff's department. Sheriff's Department. >> Yep. >> Sheriff's department, I'm here with you. Okay. >> You can hang up. Okay. >> Are you okay? >> He He was choke. >> He was choking you. Is Where'd he go? Do you know? >> Outside. He went outside into that house over there. She's here. Central 28. Go ahead and have EMS respond. She said she thinks he's in that house next door. >> What kind of vehicle does he drive? >> That silver truck. >> It was parked in a driveway. >> It was parked in the driveway. What's your son's name? >> John. Okay. >> Clara identifies her attacker as her 60-year-old son, John Michael. claiming he went next door. Officers attempt to make contact to the connected house. >> I think he's yelling get get going or something like that. >> Yeah. >> Or go on. >> What? >> What's that? He just said off. >> He's there, mayor. He keeps yelling off. >> Yeah. >> While officers struggle to make contact with John, other officers are attempting to get more information from Clara about what happened tonight. Little do they know the true nightmare this elderly mother just endured. >> You living here by yourself? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Next door. >> Oh, he lives in the house next door. What did he do to you? He twisted your leg. Did he hit you in the face? >> He punched you in the face how many times? >> What's that? >> I'm going to leave you there till EMS gets here and they're going to get you up. Okay. I don't want to cause any more injuries if you got more. Okay. >> All on your arms. and on your face. >> What made him so mad? >> You don't know? >> Just come in and started hitting on you. Moments later, deputies finally make contact with John as he emerges from the house. >> He just opened up the back door. John. Hey, what's going on? Can you come out here and talk to us? Why? >> What happened next door? >> I don't know. >> What happened to your mom? >> My mom's old. >> I You saw that. >> Pops. Pops. Come on. >> So, what happened? >> What do you mean what happened? >> What happened to her? >> I don't know what the talking about. >> You don't know what happened to your mom? Right away, it's clear Jon has no intention of giving deputies a straight answer, but it's what he says next that leaves them stunned. >> Come, >> Jenny. >> What happened next door? Did you guys get into an argument? >> What the you talking about? >> What happened to your mom? >> She was alive. >> Huh? Unfortunately, she's alive. >> Unfortunately, she's alive. >> Yeah. >> So, what happened? >> Go yourself. >> That's what happened. >> How about yourself? >> Well, that's not very nice. >> Go. >> Noticing the gate to John's backyard is unlocked, deputies move in before things spiral any further. What they don't yet realize is just how intoxicated Jon is or how he'll react once they try to take him into custody. >> Turn around. >> How about this? >> You're under John. You're under arrest. You >> You're under arrest. >> Nope. >> Listen, you're going to go down on the pavement. You better get your hands behind your back. Ready? Hey, >> Central 28. We'll have that mail in custody domestic. Knock it off. Why are you here? You're beating up your mother. That's why we're here. >> Huh? No. >> Yeah. >> No. >> Okay. Well, she's old. Yeah, you're right. She is. And I can't believe you'd do that to her. >> You want to put your shoes back on or you want to walk out there barefoot? >> All right. Barefoot it is. >> Deputies begin to lead John away, but before they even leave the backyard. Something unexpected happens. Okay. Whoa. My pants are falling. put my >> um can you guys transport or no? >> Sure. >> Okay. >> All right. Sounds good, buddy. Have a good night in our jail. >> All right, John. Have a seat. >> What's going on? >> You're going to jail. >> What? >> For domestic on your mom. Come on. Hop the car. Come on, John. Are you kidding me? >> Nope. Not kidding. Watch your step. Watch your fingers. Hang on. Watch your fingers. Watch your fingers, John. Watch fingers with Jon now secured in the back of a patrol vehicle. Two officers set off for the Rosscommen County Jail. Meanwhile, other deputies remain on scene, gathering information as EMS arrives to assist Clara. >> So, uh, what what happened? Sounds like your son found an honor. >> He was drinking. >> Yeah. Are you hurt anywhere? >> Oh. Oh. >> Okay. Did you fall off the couch or how'd you get on the floor? >> From the couch behind you. >> He threw my phone. I found it. Well, we'll go get our stretcher so that way we can get you go get looked at. Okay. >> EMS returns with the stretcher and lifts Clara onto it. As they're leaving the house for transport, Clara only has one thing on her mind. >> Yeah, we got him. He's going to jail. >> Clara is loaded into the ambulance and transported to Gring Mson Hospital where she begins fighting for her life. And while her ride to the ER is likely a quiet one, the same cannot be said for Jon's trip to the county jail. Now, >> give me a lawyer. You >> give me a lawyer. >> That's not a very nice word that you keep saying. Hey, lawyer. That's offensive. Even as they arrive, John shows no signs of letting up. >> He's just doing a lot of yelling. He's just doing a lot of yelling. He's wasted. Huh? All right. It's being a domestic byulation. All right, John. Time to get out. Come on. Hop on out, man. was decent rock. >> You already come on. How about >> How about John is booked into the Ross common county jail on charges of domestic violence and probation violation. However, by the evening, he'll learn that the situation has taken a far darker turn. Back at the scene, officers try to piece together the night's events and make sense of what just happened. Is she in there by herself? >> I I think he probably takes care of her. That's what I'm assuming cuz there ain't no way. I mean, maybe. I've never dealt with her before. >> Didn't look like she was bleeding anywhere. >> Oh, her lip is >> Well, >> I couldn't tell if it was old or not. >> Right. It kind of looked brownish, didn't it? Yeah. >> And then this, I'm assuming, was knocked over at some time. >> Well, she said through the phone, and I found the phone broken right there. >> Okay. >> Phone. >> Yep. Her cell phone was by her. So, >> okay. >> He didn't take that obviously. >> I wonder if she was trying to call 911. >> She said he came in, ripped her off the couch, started hitting her out of no reason. >> I asked why was he so mad, and she said she didn't know. >> Later that same day, just after 400 p.m., investigators bring Jon into an interrogation room, hoping for clearer answers now that he's sober. How you feeling today? >> Good. >> Better? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Sounds like you were pretty intoxicated last night. >> Yeah. >> Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Four months overhill. >> What happened? >> Fell off the wagon. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> What do you drink? Beer. >> Red stack. >> Red old drink. >> Yep. >> Um, that was my first drink in 4 months. >> Oh, really? I wasn't there, but it sounds like you hit it pretty hard, huh? Yeah. >> In your own words, why you just tell me what happened last night? >> I just got a little mouthy with my mom and Yeah. What about just stupid? I I I was so drunk I don't remember to be honest with you. That's the truth. You know how much you drank last night? Over fifth of Red Stack. Okay. Whiskey, right? Yeah. Perfect. >> What time did you start drinking? Do you remember? >> Um, sometime in the evening. >> Okay. >> 2 3:00. Would you consider yourself an alcoholic? Yes. >> Okay. >> How long's that been going on? >> Uh, about 4 years. >> 4 years. So, that's not very long really. >> No, I'm not a big drinker. >> What caused it? >> Death of my son. >> Okay. >> What happened? Uh, he overdosed on fentanyl when I found him. So, I mean, you said you haven't drank. I obviously you're on probation, but that's the first time in four months. What What made you decide to drink yesterday? Stupidity. Okay. >> John was on probation for his last domestic incident only 4 months prior with shockingly similar circumstances. According to a later interview with Jon's family, his wife states that she had just left early Friday, July 26th, for an out of town overnight trip to visit her daughter, which is the first time she's left Jon alone with Clara since his last domestic charge in March. Both claimed that they called Jon and Clara to check in on them multiple times throughout the day and into the night. Each time, Jon said they were fine and he wasn't drinking. >> What were you arguing with with your mom? I just >> Do you remember what started it? >> No, I don't I don't I was intoxicated. >> So, what do you remember from last night? >> Not much. I remember sitting on the floor with my mom. >> Okay. >> In her uh her side of the house. >> Okay. >> And I said, "Mommy, you want to get back up on the couch?" "No, I'm good. I'm good. I'm good." And then I went back to the house. Um I didn't talk to her after that. That was it. Why was she on the floor? I don't know. I don't know. I was sitting on the floor with her. >> Okay. I don't know. But before that is when you guys had your I mean, you got mouthy with her, you said earlier. >> Yeah, she got mouthy, too. She She's a pistol and she wants to be >> What was it about? Like >> maybe the You're drinking or >> Yeah, probably drinking. Was there anybody else there with you? >> No. >> John's wife also found two empty bottles of red stack in the trash can when she returned home. Both J's wife and their daughter checked in with Clara repeatedly on Friday and Saturday. Clara stated that Jon was acting up again and frightening her. She reportedly confessed that she was keeping a pair of scissors under her pillow just in case he lashed out once more. >> Neither of us were there. Right. >> Right. But if I were to tell you that she called central dispatch on a 911 line Uhhuh. >> saying that you were assaulting her and that you were going to kill her. >> Oh, no. God, no. >> You think so? She made that up? >> I don't know if she made it up. I would never kill my mom. >> All right. >> Never. >> Do you remember assaulting her at all? >> Yeah. >> What What did that look like? >> I don't recall. >> You don't remember what it looked like? >> You said you remember assaulting her? I mean, with pushing and stuff, I guess. Melts. Melty. >> Where was she at when you >> She was sitting on her couch. >> So, you were pushing her when she was on the couch? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Did you remove her from the couch? >> I think so. She got up and down. Do you remember putting your hands around her throat? >> No, I did. >> That's what she told the officers multiple times when they got there that you had been choking her. Do you remember anything like that? >> No, I don't. >> Is it possible that happened? >> I don't know. I don't know. >> Would your mom lie about that? >> I don't think so. >> Okay. >> Any idea how she would have got a black eye? She got a black eye? >> Yeah. >> Are you kidding me? >> What if she told the officers that you hit her in the face? Do you remember anything like that? >> No, I don't. >> Is that possible? >> I don't know. >> Would she lie about that? >> I don't think so. >> All right. >> Oh my god. What did I do? Do you remember grabbing her by the arm at all? >> No. I mean, maybe to help her get up. Her arms were all bruised up, too. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Clara suffered severe bruising across her arms, legs, face, and neck. She also sustained broken ribs and trauma to her throat, consistent with strangulation. Little does Jon know, the worst is yet to come, and he's about to pay a heavy price for his intoxicated actions. >> I can't believe I hurt her. I I need to lawyer up, it sounds like. I don't recall any of this stuff, guys. I'm so sorry. I I just can't believe I hurt my mom. If you guys say I did. I I I have to take your word for it. I don't know. Don't recall. Okay. [ __ ] Well, I got some bad news for you. What's that? >> Okay. Your mom passed away at the hospital. >> What? >> Yeah. >> Are you kidding me? >> No. >> No. We wouldn't care about something like that. Her mom's gone. >> She passed away. >> Despite doctor's efforts, Clara passed away at 6:30 a.m. earlier that morning. An autopsy later revealed her death was the result of both the injury she sustained and underlying hypertensive cardiovascular disease. >> Oh my god. You got to be kidding me. Oh my god. I'm I'm in shock. I >> We knew you would. >> I can't believe my mom's gone. John Michael was initially charged with first-degree homicide, first-degree abuse of a vulnerable adult, and assault with the intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation. In May 2025, he entered a no contest plea to seconddegree murder. On July 8th, 2025, he was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years and a maximum of 29 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections. If you'd like to see select new videos early and help us keep uncovering case files that rarely come to light, you'll find extra footage and unseen details on our Patreon. Channel memberships here on YouTube also include early access to select new