Ventura Woman Charged With Attempted Murder of Her Mother

HASBROUCK, WADDINGHAM, CASPERSON, MACKEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/19/2011 at 15:52:20

Clear Lake Mirror Reporter
Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Ventura woman charged with attempted murder
Valerie Lea HASBROUCK, 47, of Ventura, was arrested Monday, Dec. 3, on the charge of Attempt to Commit Murder based on an incident at the home of her mother, Tressa WADDINGHAM, 81, also of rural Ventura.

HASBROUCK made her initial appearance before a Magistrate on Tuesday, Dec. 4. The judge ordered she be held on $200,000 bond in the Hancock County Jail. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years in prison.

The Hancock County Sheriff's Office and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation of this matter. No further information was available at presstime.

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Clear Lake Mirror Reporter
Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
December 05, 2007
by Bob Link

Daughter charged with attempted murder
after attacking mother with frying pan

VENTURA - A rural Ventura woman laid on the floor and pretended to be dead after her daughter allegedly attacked her Monday with a cast iron frying pan, Hancock County authorities report.

Tressa WADDINGHAM, 81, was struck in the head four times and knocked to the ground during the alleged attack in her home by her daughter, Valerie HASBROUCK, 47, also of rural Ventura. WADDINGHAM held her breath when her daughter came near her. Meanwhile Hasbrouck staged her mother's house to look like it had been burglarized and then called 9-1-1.

HASBROUCK was charged with attempted murder, a Class B felony, punishable by imprisonment up to 25 years.

She made her initial appearance in Hancock County Court Tuesday morning where Magistrate Timothy CASPERSON set bond at $200,000 and issued a no-contact order to keep HASBROUCK away from her mother.

Waddingham is in fair condition at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Friends of Tressa WADDINGHAM'S, who refused to talk about the incident on the record, called her a "wonderful" person, active in church, friendly and willing to help.

According to the complaint filed in Hancock County District Court, the incident started unfolding Monday morning when HASBROUCK traveled less than a quarter of a mile, down 305th Street to her mother's home. The complaint states that WADDINGHAM heard HASBROUCK say aloud, "Would you die already? This is taking way too long."

During her 9-1-1 call Hasbrouck told authorities that she had just come to the house at 1:55 p.m. and that she found the house burglarized and her mother was dead.

When authorities arrived, WADDINGHAM wasn't dead and she identified her daughter as the person who had attacked her, stated the complaint filed in district court.

The case remains under investigation by the Hancock County Sheriff's Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

HASBROUCK remains in the Hancock County Jail. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 13.

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Clear Lake Mirror Reporter
Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
December 12, 2007

Ventura woman scheduled to appear in court
on attempted murder charge

Mother played dead as daughter allegedly set scene

An 81-year-old Ventura woman told officials she layed on the floor of her home and pretended to be dead after her daughter allegedly attacked her and then ransacked her home to stage a break-in.

Tressa WADDINGHAM told Hancock County authorities she was struck in the head four times and knocked to the floor by her daughter, Valerie Lea HASBROUCK, 47, of Ventura. HASBROUCK was arrested Monday, Dec. 3, on the charge of Attempt to Commit Murder. HASBROUCK made her initial appearance before a Magistrate on Tuesday, Dec. 4. The judge ordered she be held in Hancock County Jail on $200,000 bond. A no-contact order was also issued to keep HASBROUCK away from her mother.

WADDINGHAM was hospitalized at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in fair condition. She has since been released.

Documents filed in Hancock County District Court state the incident began Monday morning, Dec. 3, when HASBROUCK entered WADDINGHAM'S rural Ventura home.

HASBROUCK made a 911 call to authorities at 1:55 p.m. and reported she had just found the house burglarized and her mother dead. But when authorities arrived, WADDINGHAM wasn't dead and she identified her daughter as the person who had attacked her and then scattered and broke belongings so the home would appear to have been broken into.

Court documents state HASBROUCK struck her mother with a frying pan and [WADDINGHAM] heard her say, "Would you die already? This is taking way too long."

If convicted, HASBROUCK faces up to 25 years in prison. Her preliminary hearing is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 13.

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The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Monday, October 6, 2008

Ventura woman gets 40 years in prison
for striking mother

GARNER — A Ventura woman was sentenced this afternoon in Hancock County District Court to four 10-year prison terms for striking her mother with a frying pan and reporting to authorities that she was murdered.

The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Valerie HASBROUCK, 47, had pleaded guilty to four counts of willful injury. She was initially charged with attempted murder. Willful injury is a Class C felony which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

According to authorities, HASBROUCK attacked her mother, Tressa WADDINGHAM, on Dec. 3. 2007, at the mother's rural Ventura home. Authorities say HASBROUCK struck her mother four times with a cast-iron frying pan.

According to police reports, Tressa WADDINGHAM, 81, was knocked to the ground during the attack.

WADDINGHAM told authorities she played dead, holding her breath when her daughter came near her. Meanwhile, HASBROUCK arranged her mother's house to look like it had been burglarized and then called 911, authorities said.

A complaint filed in court records states that WADDINGHAM heard HASBROUCK say aloud, "Would you die already? This is taking way too long."

During her 911 call HASBROUCK told authorities that she had just come to the house at 1:55 p.m. and that she found the house burglarized and her mother dead.

When authorities arrived, WADDINGHAM wasn't dead and she identified her daughter as the person who had attacked her, stated the complaint filed in district court.

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Clear Lake Mirror Reporter
Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, October 09, 2008

Judge hands down sentencing
in frying pan attack

A Ventura woman was sentenced to four consecutive 10-year prison terms for striking her mother with a frying pan and reporting to authorities that she was murdered.

Valerie HASBROUCK, 47, was initally charged with attempted murder; she later pleaded guilty to four counts of willful injury. Willful injury is a Class C felony which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Monday, Judge John S. MACKEY sentenced HASBROUCK to four consecutive independent terms not to exceed 10 years. The consecutive sentences were representative of the separate blows HASBROUCK inflicted upon her mother, the judge noted. Restitution of $2,650 to cover her mother's medical costs while hospitalized and anger management treatment were also included in the sentence.

"I have deep regrets and I'll have to live with them and I hope to make some changes," HASBROUCK told the court.

According to authorities, Hasbrouck attacked her mother, 81-year-old Tressa WADDINGHAM, on Dec. 3. 2007, at the mother'’s rural Ventura home. Authorities say HASBROUCK struck her mother four times with a cast-iron frying pan. WADDINGHAM, was knocked to the ground during the attack. She told authorities she played dead, holding her breath when her daughter came near her. Meanwhile, HASBROUCK arranged her mother's house to look like it had been burglarized and then called 911, authorities said.

During her 911 call HASBROUCK told authorities that she had just come to the house at 1:55 p.m. and that she found the house burglarized and her mother dead.

When authorities arrived, WADDINGHAM wasn't dead and she identified her daughter as the person who had attacked her, stated the complaint filed in Hancock County District Court.

WADDINGHAM read a letter as a witness impact statement, noting it was intended for the court and Valerie. She recounted the gift of land she and her husband made to Valerie after she expressed her wishes to live near them. "Her dad and I thanked her many times for being there when our health was critical," she read.

The letter went on to state that Valerie had told her mother she would be bringing a casserole to the house Dec. 3 and the meeting was something she was looking forward to.

"I baked her favorite cookies thinking we could have cookies together. That didn't happen. That was not her plan."

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2011