Carrie Zettel Obituary, Death Cause – Authorities in Milwaukee are investigating the tragic death of a 64-year-old woman found at her home on the city’s south side on Sunday, October 12. Throughout the afternoon, numerous police and forensic units surrounded the residence near South 23rd Street and West Ramsey Avenue as part of an ongoing inquiry.
According to officials, the woman lost her life following a violent encounter involving a stone. Though police have not officially released her name, two women at the scene, who identified themselves as close friends, said the victim was Carrie Zettel, a longtime resident of the neighborhood.
Friends Susan Henderson-Hoffman and her daughter Loretta Moyer told reporters that Zettel was a cherished part of their lives. Henderson-Hoffman described her as a childhood friend, while Moyer said she considered Zettel a “second mother.”
“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, police confirmed they had taken a 29-year-old woman into custody in connection with the incident. Henderson-Hoffman and Moyer said they were told the person detained was Zettel’s daughter. However, since no formal charges have yet been filed, the suspect’s name has not been released publicly.
Public court records show a woman of the same age, who previously lived with Zettel, had a documented history of legal and mental health issues. Records indicate that in 2018 she was served with a domestic restraining order, and later that year, she faced multiple violations of that order. In both cases, judges determined she was not competent to stand trial. In 2020, she faced additional misdemeanor charges, with the same finding of incompetence made by the court.
According to Moyer, Zettel reached out early Sunday morning, leaving a voicemail at about 3:53 a.m., expressing fear that her daughter was trying to enter her home. The message captured Zettel’s anxious tone as she explained that she had called police after hearing someone at her door and windows.
“Police came and found her hiding outside but she ran off,” Zettel reportedly said in the voicemail. “They’re still here looking for her.”
Neighbors said law enforcement had responded to Zettel’s address many times before. Henderson-Hoffman said she had become so accustomed to hearing sirens stop at Zettel’s home that she could often tell where officers were headed.
“Do you know how strange it is to know exactly where the sirens will stop?” she asked.
Around 2 p.m. that Sunday, Henderson-Hoffman said she once again heard sirens and stepped outside to see what was happening. This time, she immediately sensed the situation was far more serious.
“I saw all the squad cars and knew it wasn’t like the other times,” she said. “There were just too many police.”
Reporters at the scene noted several forensic vans, police tape, and federal investigators on-site. Henderson-Hoffman said she approached an officer, desperate for answers, and was told the incident had taken place in the backyard.
“She didn’t deserve this,” Henderson-Hoffman said, struggling for words. “She was a kind woman who cared deeply for others.”
Friends described Zettel as a widowed mother of three and a grandmother who extended kindness to many children in the area. Moyer said Zettel often let neighborhood kids leave their bicycles in her yard to keep them safe before heading to school.
“She treated all of them like family,” Moyer said. “She was just that kind of person.”
Both friends believe the tragedy underscores the consequences of an overburdened system that failed to intervene despite warning signs.
“This could have been prevented,” Henderson-Hoffman said. “She was afraid and kept asking for help. The system let her down.”
Police continue to investigate the case, and formal charges are expected once the investigation is complete. The community, meanwhile, is mourning a woman remembered for her warmth, generosity, and unwavering loyalty to those she loved.
