Man ‘going to prison anyway’ strikes ex 25 times with hatchet, WI officials say
A Wisconsin man is in jail after officials said he attacked his ex with a hatchet, striking her more than 25 times.
Hayden Lyle Daffinson, 34, is charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault with use of a dangerous weapon, mayhem, first-degree reckless injury, aggravated battery, intimidate victim/use or attempt force and false imprisonment, according to court records.
Attorney information for Daffinson was not available.
Just before 3 p.m. June 22, a woman called 911 and reported she was attacked with an axe, according to a criminal complaint, WLUK reported.
“(The woman) stated she just broke up with the defendant prior to this occurring, that he was at her house to pick up some of his personal property, and that he attacked her with the hatchet prior to leaving her residence in a red SUV,” the complaint states, according to the outlet.
Daffinson showed up to her home in Fond du Lac with a backpack and went upstairs. When he came back downstairs he had a hatchet, the complaint said, WBAY reported.
The woman asked Daffinson to leave when he struck her with the hatchet then tried to sexually assault her, the outlet reported, per the complaint. He then told her, “(expletive) it, I’m just going to kill you, because I’m going to prison anyway,” court records said, according to the outlet. He then struck her 25 more times or more, according to the news outlet.
The woman had two broken arms, skull fractures and may have to have a finger amputated, WLUK reported.
Daffinson’s car was found in Germantown and he led police on a short chase before being arrested, WBAY reported. Officers found a hatchet and steak knife in the car, according to the outlet.
He is being held on a $5 million bond, jail records show.
Fond du Lac is about a 60-mile drive northwest from Milwaukee.
This story was originally published June 25, 2025 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Man ‘going to prison anyway’ strikes ex 25 times with hatchet, WI officials say."
