Teenager Charged with Strangling Grandmother in Shocking Attack

On August 27, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded in South Milwaukee, where a 15-year-old boy, Edward Barbara, is accused of strangling his own grandmother, Elizabeth Totsky, in an unprovoked attack.

According to the criminal complaint, on the day of the incident, a South Milwaukee officer arrived at Totsky's home to find her receiving emergency medical treatment. Barbara, Totsky's grandson, had placed the 911 call. Initially, Barbara told the officer that Totsky had collapsed while they were cooking eggs, and that he had not witnessed anything unusual.

However, the investigation took a disturbing turn when an autopsy revealed that Totsky's cause of death was strangulation. Authorities then interviewed Barbara again, and he admitted to strangling his grandmother for about five minutes until her body went limp.

The complaint also revealed that two months prior to the incident, Totsky had told her husband that Barbara had previously snuck up behind her and put her in a chokehold, causing her to lose consciousness.

Edward Barbara has now been charged as an adult with first-degree intentional homicide. If convicted, he could face life in prison. This tragic case has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of Elizabeth Totsky.