Robert Rednour

Amid an apparent mental health episode, a Cody man allegedly stabbed his mother in her stomach early Monday morning.

Robert N. Rednour, 39, is facing a felony count of aggravated assault and battery and a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery in connection with the incident.

As of Wednesday, Rednour remained in the Park County Detention Center, with bail set at $25,000 cash or surety.

A prosecutor also indicated his office is pursuing a separate, civil process that generally applies when a person is believed to pose a danger to their self or others as a result of mental illness.

“There are other, confidential proceedings going forth that complicate the [criminal] matter,” Deputy Park County Prosecuting Attorney Larry Eichele said at a Tuesday court hearing. He was apparently alluding to a so-called Title 25 case, which involves providing support — and potentially involuntarily hospitalization — for a person experiencing a mental health crisis.

Charging documents say it was Rednour who initially called the sheriff’s office before 2:30 a.m. Monday. He reportedly said he had “accidentally” stabbed his mother and then hung up.

Based on prior encounters, Park County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Caudle said he knew Rednour had “violent tendencies” and requested backup. The two deputies arrived at the Ranchette Lane residence in rural Cody with lethal and less lethal force at the ready, Caudle wrote in an affidavit, but Rednour was detained without incident.

Meanwhile, the woman was taken by ambulance to Cody Regional Health. Caudle said she had a 2-inch cut on her abdomen that appeared to have been inflicted by a knife with an 8-inch blade. The deputy found signs of a struggle in the house and blood in several different rooms and on the woman. They also noted the smell of marijuana, with Rednour allegedly admitting to smoking the drug over a span of several days.

Rednour allegedly told the deputy that he’d become upset with his mother and “stated several times that he stabbed her.” 

During his conversations with Rednour, Caudle said the suspect also made a series of apparently delusional comments. For example, Rednour said he believed his mother had brought “little people” into their home to annoy him and while waiting to be checked out at Cody Regional Health, he appeared to hallucinate and hear voices, Caudle wrote.

While the criminal case is pending, Circuit Court Judge Joey Darrah barred Rednour from having any contact with his mother, which prompted the defendant to swear in frustration at Tuesday’s hearing. Rednour also complained that he’d been unable to take his seizure medication since his arrest; Darrah encouraged the defendant to work with the jail and his court-appointed attorney.

“... I want to make sure that you get the medical care you can receive,” the judge said.

A preliminary hearing on the aggravated assault charge is tentatively set for next week.