‘Captain America’ actress accused in Olathe killing said she acted in self-defense
An actress charged in the stabbing death of her mother in Olathe told police and 911 operators that her mother had attempted to kill her and she acted in self-defense, according to court records released Tuesday.
Medical examiners however, determined there were no signs the mother was ever in control of the weapon.
Mollie Fitzgerald, 38, is charged in Johnson County District Court with second-degree murder in the death of 68-year-old Patricia Fitzgerald. The actress, who played a small role in “Captain America” had been staying with her mother at the home in the 10200 block of South Shadow Circle since June, according to court records.
According to the affidavit in support of Fitzgerald’s arrest, her father told police that her “aggressive behaviors (had) been escalating.” He said that he, and Patricia Fitzgerald, would attempt to leave the room or deescalate the situation when this occurred.
On Dec. 20, Fitzgerald allegedly called 911 just before noon to report that she had killed her mother in self-defense, court records say.
When police arrived at the house they found Patricia Fitzgerald lying on the floor of the home’s front entryway with a knife in her back.
Fitzgerald told police that her mother had come at her with a knife and that she had used a vacuum attachment to hit her mother and had taken the knife and used it against her, court records said.
“(Fitzgerald) said her mother just would not stop trying to take the knife to kill her, so she had to kill her mom,” the affidavit said.
Police found signs of a struggle inside the house, including an overturned chair, a broken lamp and damaged drywall.
Fitzgerald was taken to the hospital and treated for minor cuts and a bite mark on her arm, according to prosecutors.
An autopsy performed on Patricia Fitzgerald found “defensive injuries” and bruising consistent with attempted choking. The medical examiner said he found no injuries consistent with the woman having been in control of the knife, according to court records.
Patricia Fitzgerald’s husband, whose name is redacted from the document, said he did not believe Patricia Fitzgerald would ever attempt to physically restrain their daughter because of the size and age difference between the women.
Fitzgerald said in a court hearing on Jan. 2 that she would represent herself in court. A judge Tuesday ordered that she undergo a mental competency evaluation before the case progresses further.
