WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – A Wisconsin man faces serious charges in connection with the violent death of his neighbor just weeks after she accused him of attempting to decapitate her. Cyril Granahan, 60, has been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree reckless homicide, following the death of the woman on May 8.
The incident began unfolding on April 25, when the 61-year-old woman was discovered by her caregiver with injuries. She was immediately taken to a hospital, where she recounted a harrowing tale to the police. According to court documents, the woman alleged that her neighbor, Granahan, had threatened her life previously, saying he intended to “cut (her) head off.”
The two neighbors reportedly had a past of intermittent dating since early 2023. Granahan was known to live in the apartment directly beneath her. On the night before the violent episode, Granahan visited her and left in the early morning hours, only to return shortly after with confrontational demands.
When the woman failed to locate a cigarette case Granahan had asked about, she reported that he became violent, pushing her to the ground and stomping on her. Police documents state that during the brutal attack, Granahan allegedly reiterated his intention to harm her, this time introducing a “big, long steak knife” into the assault.
The woman detailed to authorities how Granahan began attempting to saw at her neck with the knife—a process she first described as lasting 45 minutes before later estimating about 10 minutes. Officers observing her injuries noted a significant cut on her neck and a defensive wound on her hand.
In light of these events, the woman’s daughter informed police of her mother’s history with multiple brain tumors, suggesting potential reasons for variations in her statements. Following an emergency surgery on April 29 to address a brain bleed, the woman’s health sharply deteriorated.
Remaining in a coma-like state post-surgery, she passed away on May 8. An autopsy identified blunt force trauma to the head as the preliminary cause of death. Meanwhile, Granahan had been committed to a psychiatric hospital following the April incident.
Cyril Granahan, now in custody at the Wood County Jail, faces charges that include physical abuse of an elder person and misdemeanor disorderly conduct, with heightened penalties due to the age of the victim. A bond has been set at $250,000, and his court proceedings are set to continue with an arraignment on June 3.