13 WTHRWoman's death in sword fight ruled homicide

Woman's death in sword fight ruled homicide

Steve Jefferson/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - A 77-year-old grandmother is dead after getting caught in a sword fight between family members. It happened at their northwest side home in the 5200 block of North Race Way Road.

"I have been regretting this moment for a long time. I knew it was going to come eventually," said Leonard McGee.

McGee is helping his relatives cope with a deadly family fight with swords at his stepmother's home.

Franziska Stegbauer, 77, ended up dead trying to break up a fight between her brother-in-law and 39-year-old grandson Chris Rondeau.

"It's unfortunate because she was a really good person. She helped us out all the time and did whatever she could and was a really nice person," said McGee.

Investigators say Rondeau called police from their North Race Way Road home. Officers found his grandmother, Franziska Stegbauer, stabbed in the chest. They also found his grandmother's brother-in-law, 69-year-old Adolf Stegbauer, with stab wounds.

"One of them was a World War Two Japanese officer type of sword and the other one was a thin blade," said Sgt. Matthew Mount, IMPD.

Officers put Chris Rondeau under arrest at Wishard Hospital for attempted murder. The charge could easily change as police learn more about the sword fight.

"We have to determine whose blood is on which sword," said Sgt. Mount.

Family members say they knew all along that something bad would happen at their north Race Way Road home because the two men just didn't get along.

"It was just a matter of time before something happened. Both of them were hot heads anyway," said McGee.

Right now police are waiting on doctors to clear them to transfer Rondeau from hospital detention to the Marion County Jail.