A Colorado woman is facing a first-degree murder charge after authorities say she fatally stabbed her mother during an argument inside a Westminster home, leaving the body covered with blankets in a hallway while a young child was present.

Police arrested Sarah Riste, 37, on Sunday, Sept. 28, after responding to a disturbance call at a residence on the 3300 block of West 92nd Place, according to a statement from the Westminster Police Department. Officers arrived shortly before 2 p.m. to find Riste and a child sitting outside on the steps. The child’s age has not been released.

Blood-Stained Suspect Claimed ‘Accident’

Responding officers said Riste’s shirt and hands were stained with blood. According to an arrest affidavit cited by The Denver Post, she told officers there had been an “accident” inside the house and gave them permission to enter.

Inside, officers discovered a grim scene: blood spattered on the walls and the body of Kathy Johnson, 64, lying at the end of a hallway beneath several blankets. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene and showed “visible signs of trauma,” police said.

The affidavit alleges that Riste later told investigators she had endured years of emotional abuse from her mother and that she grabbed a kitchen knife during a fight that escalated into the fatal stabbing.

Child Witnessed the Killing

The incident unfolded in front of a small child believed to be Riste’s own. According to the affidavit, the child made statements to authorities that painted a stark picture of what had happened. The child reportedly said something along the lines of: “Mom stabbed Grandma. Mom is going to jail. Grandma is dead and now I don’t have anyone.”

Police said Riste had been yelling at the child outside the home before officers arrived and instructed the child not to speak. Detectives determined that Riste was the suspect and took her into custody without incident. The child was turned over to Child Protective Services.

Neighbors told reporters they were stunned by the violence. “We saw the police cars and the tape going up. It’s just heartbreaking to think a little one was there,” one nearby resident said.

Authorities have not released further details about the nature of the dispute that led to the stabbing. The Adams County Coroner’s Office is expected to release the official cause of death and complete autopsy results in the coming days.

Court Appearance on Murder Charge

Riste appeared Thursday morning before an Adams County judge to be formally advised of the charge of first-degree murder. She remains in custody pending further court proceedings.

The Westminster Police Department has urged anyone with additional information about the case to come forward.

“This was a tragic and disturbing incident, particularly because a child was present in the home,” the department said in a statement on social media.

The fatal stabbing has rattled the quiet suburban neighborhood, leaving friends and neighbors of the family seeking answers. The investigation remains ongoing.