Holland, MI – A Holland mother was charged with open murder and resisting an officer after allegedly assisting her son in fulfilling his wish to die before his 18th birthday. Katie Austin Lee, 41, appeared in court Monday via video from the Ottawa County Jail following the death of her 17-year-old son, Austin Dean Pikaart, on Friday.
According to authorities, Lee called 911 at approximately 4:15 a.m. on Friday, telling dispatchers that her son had stopped breathing. She claimed she had been trying for some time to revive him. During the call, Lee revealed that her son had requested her help to stop breathing, as he did not want to live past his 18th birthday, which would have been the following day.
Investigators say Lee told police that she had used a knife to cut her son after he passed out. The court records indicated that Pikaart had cuts on his throat and arm. The day before the fatal incident, Lee reported that both she and her son had attempted to overdose on medication, but they were unsuccessful.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found Lee with blood on her clothes, holding a large kitchen knife in a threatening manner. Lee allegedly refused to drop the knife, prompting police to deploy a Taser to disarm her. After briefly releasing the knife, Lee reportedly tried to retrieve it, resulting in another use of the Taser.
Authorities discovered Pikaart in a bed, suffering from a severe neck wound and additional cuts. Lee was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment related to a suspected overdose.
In her arraignment, Lee was denied bond and informed the court that she is unemployed and disabled. No prior records indicate any court-ordered mental health intervention for either her or her son, who had lived in Ottawa County for over a decade.
After the hearing, a family member of Lee’s spoke to the media, calling for more attention to mental health issues. “Take mental health serious,” the family member urged, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing mental health struggles before they reach such tragic outcomes.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up by the family to help cover funeral expenses for Austin Pikaart.
The case has left the community in shock and has raised concerns about the need for better mental health resources and support for individuals facing crises like the one that led to this devastating event.
