WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI – A Wisconsin man has been charged with the murder of his neighbor two weeks after she accused him of attempting to decapitate her. Cyril Granahan, 60, is now facing serious charges related to the death of a 61-year-old woman, who passed away on May 8 after undergoing surgery for brain bleeding.

The tragic incident traces back to April 25, when the woman was found by her caregiver bleeding in her home. It was then that she relayed a harrowing account to law enforcement, alleging Granahan’s violent threats. According to the criminal complaint, the victim reported that Granahan had ominously stated he would “cut her head off.”

Details emerged revealing a strained relationship between Granahan and the victim, who had intermittently dated since 2023. They lived in the same building, with Granahan residing directly beneath the woman’s apartment.

On April 24, Granahan reportedly visited her home, leaving only to return hours later, allegedly instigating a violent confrontation over a missing cigarette case.

In the chaotic altercation that ensued, the woman alleged Granahan pushed her to the ground and stomped on her chest. It was during this attack that Granahan allegedly wielded a “big, long steak knife,” horrifyingly attempting to saw her neck, according to the complaint. The victim’s conflicting reports initially suggested the ordeal lasted 45 minutes, later correcting to 10.

Police documented significant injuries, including a lengthy cut on her neck, facial and chest bruising, and a defensive wound on her hand. Compounding the investigation, the woman’s daughter informed police about her mother’s previous brain tumors, which might explain some inconsistencies in her testimony.

While hospitalized, the victim’s health rapidly deteriorated. On April 29, she underwent emergency surgery for a brain bleed, but her condition worsened, leading her to fall into a coma-like state from which she never recovered. An autopsy identified blunt force trauma as a preliminary cause of death.

Granahan was committed to a psychiatric facility shortly after the April 25 incident. His charges include first-degree reckless homicide and physical abuse of an elder, with added penalties owing to the victim’s age. Detained in the Wood County Jail on $250,000 cash bond, Granahan awaits his arraignment on June 3.