Carver County Man Accused of Trying to Kill Ex-Wife During Violent Attack

Sep 16

A Cologne man is in custody after authorities say he strangled his ex-wife and admitted he wanted to kill her during a violent incident at their home last week.

Robert Charles Madsen, 66, was charged with attempted second-degree murder, domestic assault by strangulation and threats of violence in connection with the Sept. 9 assault.

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Deputies were called around 6:13 p.m. Tuesday to the residence on 150th Street South in Benton Township after a report of a domestic assault. When a deputy arrived, Madsen pulled out a pocketknife and tried to hand it to another woman, leading deputies to detain him immediately.

According to the complaint, Madsen told a deputy he had learned earlier in the day that his ex-wife had “screwed him over” in their divorce earlier this year. He admitted to “pushing her around” and said, “I wanted to kill her” because “she took everything from me.” He acknowledged placing his hands around her neck and said of his intent, “it wasn’t good.” When asked if he meant to take her life, he stopped speaking with deputies.

Family members inside the multi-generational home intervened. One relative told deputies he heard a commotion in the couple’s in-law suite and saw Madsen on top of the victim. His daughter said she heard her mother screaming in a “discombobulated voice” and, upon entering the room, saw Madsen crouched over her. They pulled the two apart as Madsen allegedly declared, “Yeah, I choked her and I’d do it again. I should have done it longer.”

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The victim told deputies that Madsen locked the door, slapped her and said he was going to kill her before putting his hands around her neck and strangling her. She said she could not breathe and could not yell for help. She tried breaking a window with binoculars before Madsen struck her with them and knocked her phone away as she tried to call for help. The complaint says he choked her from behind until family members forced their way inside.

Deputies noted the victim suffered bruising on her neck and scratches on her arms. Medical staff observed petechiae in her eyes, a symptom consistent with strangulation.

Madsen was booked into the Carver County Jail and made an initial court appearance last week, where bail was set at $5,000 with conditions including a no-contact order and remain law abiding. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison on the attempted murder charge.

His next court date is set in October.

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