*THIS STORY CONTAINS GRAPHIC INFORMATION THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED*
February 24, 2026 – 3:19 p.m.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – The 35-year-old man accused of an axe attack in Fond du Lac was in court while in custody on February 23, with his trial set for April.
Court records show that Hayden Daffinson of Ripon appeared with his attorney while Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney was in court as the prosecutor.
A new status conference has been set for March 17 at 9 a.m. His five-day jury trial is still set to begin on April 7, running each weekday until April 13, all scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
UPDATE: Ripon man accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend with axe in court, trial still set
January 28, 2026 – 3:19 p.m.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – The 34-year-old man arrested following an alleged axe attack in Fond du Lac was in court while in custody on January 27.
Court records show that Hayden Daffinson of Ripon appeared with his attorney as Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney was in court as the prosecutor.
An additional status conference has been set for February 23 at 1:30 p.m., and his five-day jury trial is still set for April 7-10 and April 13, all at 8:30 a.m.
Ripon man accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend with axe set for five-day jury trial
November 4, 2025 – 12:31 p.m.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – The 34-year-old man arrested following an alleged axe attack in Fond du Lac appeared in court on Monday, six weeks after pleading not guilty by reason of a mental disease.
Court records show that Hayden Daffinson of Ripon appeared in court with an attorney while Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric J. Toney was in court on behalf of the state.
A status conference has been set for January 27 at 3 p.m., with a five-day jury trial set for April 7-10 and April 13, with each date set for 8:30 a.m.
Ripon man accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend with axe pleads not guilty by reason of mental defect
September 19, 2025 – 2:08 p.m.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – The 34-year-old man arrested following an alleged axe attack in Fond du Lac appeared in court on Friday for an arraignment hearing.
Court records show that Hayden Daffinson of Ripon appeared in court with an attorney as they waived rights to a formal reading; however, the defense entered not guilty pleas, including not guilty by reason of mental disease/defect on all counts.
The court accepted the pleas, requesting an evaluation by the Department of Health Services, with a review set for November 3 at 8 a.m.
‘I’m just going to kill you because I’m going to prison anyway’: Fond du Lac axe suspect has cash bond at $5 million
June 25, 2025 – 1:20 p.m.
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – The 34-year-old man arrested on June 22 following an alleged axe attack in Fond du Lac appeared in court with charges confirmed and a cash bond was set.
Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney announced that the state requested a $5 million cash bond, which was officially set by Judge Tricia Walker, as Hayden Daffinson of Ripon was charged with the following:
- Count 1: Attempted First-Degree Intentional Homicide
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
- Count 2: First-Degree Sexual Assault
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
- Counts 3-4: Mayhem
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
- Count 5: First-Degree Reckless Injury
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
- Count 6: Aggravated Battery
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
- Count 7: Felony Intimidation of a Victim
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
- Count 8: False Imprisonment
- Use of a dangerous weapon and assessed for domestic abuse
Three hospitalized in Wisconsin due to Powassan virus, one dead from disease
According to the complaint, the initial incident occurred on June 22, when officers were dispatched to a home in Fond du Lac on East Merrill Avenue, with a female caller identified as the victim stating she was attacked with an axe by a suspect, Daffinson, who had left the residence.
The axe, according to receipts recovered in a search warrant, revealed that Daffinson reportedly bought the axe about an hour before the 911 call was made, while he was en route to her home.
Officers arrived and reportedly noticed several wounds and extreme amounts of blood splattered around the living room and staircase of the home. The victim had multiple lacerations on her body, and officers applied medical treatment to stop or slow life-threatening bleeding.
According to the complaint, the victim was initially hesitant to tell officers who had attacked her out of fear for her life; however, she later said that her ex-boyfriend Daffinson struck her repeatedly after she broke up with him, and he had been verbally abusive since. Daffinson was reportedly at her home to pick up some of his things.
The victim was airlifted to a hospital and underwent surgery for her injuries for several hours, with future surgeries possible, including a possible amputation of her left pinky finger, which was reportedly almost entirely detached.
Officers spoke with the victim at the hospital and learned that Daffinson sexually assaulted her after the axe attack occurred. The victim added that Daffinson said, “(expletive) it, I’m just going to kill you, because I’m going to prison anyway.”
According to the complaint, a Ring doorbell camera at a witness’s house captured audio and video of Daffinson leaving in a red SUV. The audio is believed to be from the victim, repeatedly yelling at Daffinson to leave and stop.
According to the criminal complaint, a license plate reader and cell phone pings indicated that his vehicle and device were observed heading into Illinois shortly after 5 p.m. on June 22.
Officers found his vehicle later that day, after he attempted to flee police at extreme speeds over 110 miles per hour. When officers in Germantown made contact with the driver, who was verbally identified as Daffinson, they noticed blood on him, which he claimed was from fighting with his girlfriend.
“The allegations in the criminal complaint are unconscionable that someone could do that to another person,” District Attorney Toney said in a release. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the Victim and the community are protected from this defendant.”
Bicyclist hit by vehicle in Wisconsin, police investigating
Daffinson is set for an arraignment on September 19 at 8:30 a.m., with additional charges possible, and he currently faces over 190 years of prison time based on the charges.
Local 5 will provide updates as needed.
ANYBODY EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE BY TEXTING 88788 OR CALLING 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
