Ripon man charged after using hatchet in alleged domestic violence attack

A $5 million cash bond was set for a Ripon man Wednesday morning in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court following an alleged domestic violence incident that took place Sunday, June 22.

Hayden Lyle Daffinson, 34, was charged with attempted first degree Intentional homicide, first degree sexual assault, two counts of mayhem, first degree reckless injury, aggravated battery, felony intimidation of a victim and false imprisonment.

All charges, which are felonies, include domestic violence and dangerous weapon enhancers.

Daffinson currently faces more than 190 years of initial prison confinement and additional charges as anticipated as the investigation progresses. The preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 31 at 1:30 p.m. in front of Judge Anthony Nehls.

The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.

The criminal complaint alleges that Daffinson entered the victim’s house in the city of Fond du Lac Sunday to pick up his belongings after the victim ended their relationship about a week prior. It went on to note that Daffinson went upstairs as the victim was sitting on the couch and when he came downstairs he was holding a hatchet. Upon being asked to leave the house, Daffinson allegedly attacked the victim with the hatchet, striking her five times before stopping.

He then allegedly sexually assaulted the victim, before eventually telling her “I’m just going to kill you because I’m going to prison anyway.” The criminal complaint noted that Daffinson then struck the victim “approximately 25 or more additional times with the hatchet on her back, hands, arms and head” while calling her derogatory names.

The victim told authorities that the only reason Daffinson didn’t kill her was that she told him that she would say that she “fell down the stairs or something” and wouldn’t tell the cops what happened. Daffinson allegedly told her that “I’m going to kill you if you do” and eventually left the residence.

The victim was able to get to her phone, which Daffinson allegedly took away from her during the attack so she couldn’t call 911, and called for help. The victim reported that she is “terrified of Daffinson, and feels that if he ever gets out of jail, he’s going to kill her.”

Daffinson’s vehicle was located Sunday around 7 p.m. in Germantown, Wis., and a pursuit with law enforcement ensued, with Daffinson’s vehicle reaching more than 110 miles per hour. As spike strips were being deployed, Daffinson swerved his vehicle toward an officer. The spike strips successfully deflated the front passenger side tire and vehicle ultimately was forced to stop via two separate PIT maneuvers by Wisconsin State Patrol. Daffinson then was taken into custody.

An officer of the Germantown Police Department inquired with Daffinson if the blood splatter on his legs was from officers breaking out his car window, to which Daffinson allegedly replied that it was from “fighting with my girlfriend.” The criminal complaint noted that “it was observed that Daffinson’s clothing and shoes were covered in what appeared to be dried blood stains, and that his legs were spattered with a dried red substance, also believed to be blood.”

The criminal complaint notes that during the execution of a search warrant on Daffinson’s red SUV, a store receipt for Dollar General in Ripon was located. The receipt showed that “UTILITY CORD” and “PARACORD HANDLE H” were purchased on June 22 at 1:11 p.m. In addition, the cardboard packaging for a “paracord handle hatchet,” the black nylon sheath for a hatchet, a steak knife and paracord 60’ length (still in the packaging) also were located. The criminal complaint went on to say that “The paracord and the paracord handle hatchet appeared to match up with the purchased items on the Dollar General receipt.”

A detective noticed upon reviewing camera footage from the time of the purchase a male subject, who visually appeared to be Daffinson, and was wearing what appeared to be identical clothing to that which was recovered from the Germantown Police Department and now is covered in suspected blood.

The criminal complaint noted that the victim’s left pinky likely will need to be amputated in the coming days and that the victim reported that her arms and hands took most of the blows from the hatchet as she was trying to protect her face and head. It was confirmed through medical staff at ThedaCare that the victim’s left and right arms are broken and that she has several skull fractures as well.

“The allegations in the criminal complaint are unconscionable that … someone could do that to another person,” Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney said. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the victim and the community are protected from this defendant.”

Toney added that anyone experiencing domestic violence may contact the National Domestic Violence hotline by texting 88788 or calling 1-800-799-SAFE(7233).

“Locally, the Solutions Center at SolutionsFDL.org or 920-923-1700 can offer assistance for those experiencing domestic violence,” Toney said. “You are not alone and help is available.”

This case is being investigated by the city of Fond du Lac Police Department with assistance from the Germantown Police Department and Wisconsin State Patrol and is being prosecuted by Toney.