Inset: Dana Magnuson (GoFundMe). Background: Magnuson’s backyard, where she was allegedly stabbed to death by her 15-year-old neighbor (KTRK).
A 15-year-old male in Texas was arrested this week and accused of killing his 62-year-old neighbor, allegedly stabbing her multiple times in her backyard. Authorities say they found Dana Magnuson dead inside her blood-soaked backyard shed following the attack earlier this month.
The 15-year-old neighbor alleged to have committed the fatal attack has not been identified due to his age. However, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed that deputies had charged the teen with murder in connection to Magnuson’s death, saying the juvenile was in custody at the Harris County Juvenile Detention Center.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies at about 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024, responded to a 911 call at the Magnuson family home in the 20800 block of Sunshine Meadow Drive, about 40 miles northwest of Houston. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they located the body of an adult female — later identified as Magnuson — who appeared to have suffered multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead on the scene by medics.
The assailant fled from the scene on foot before authorities arrived.
“Our condolences go out to the victim’s family and all persons impacted by this tragic death,” Sheriff Gonzalez wrote in a post to X, formerly Twitter. “Excellent work once again by our Homicide Investigators, who worked tirelessly on this case.”
Gonzalez also noted that Magnuson was described as “an active community member” who was “beloved by everyone who knew her.”
Authorities said that Magnuson’s body was found in the backyard shed, but investigators currently believe that the teen initiated the attack while the older woman was in the backyard hot tub, Houston ABC affiliate KTRK reported. A struggle is believed to have ensued that ultimately ended with Magnuson dying in the shed.
Multiple sources reportedly told KTRK that after the teen’s arrest, he was questioned by detectives and said he just wanted to see what it was like to stab someone.
The juvenile defendant’s attorney, Jon Stephenson, told the station that the family is waiting to see the evidence against the boy.
“We only have preliminary reports, and a petition has yet to be filed by the State,” he said. “We look forward to seeing the evidence they actually have. He’s a good kid from a good family, and we are working to figure out what really happened.”
Magnuson’s son, Tyler Pitney, spoke to Houston Fox affiliate KRIV about his mother and her alleged killer.
Pitney said the teen was a neighbor who knew his mother and often helped her with yard work and other chores.
“Nothing out of the ordinary, regular looking kid, looks like he comes from a decent home,” Pitney said when describing the juvenile defendant.
Pitney also provided a slightly different version of events than what authorities have stated publicly. He told the station that his mother had returned home from a bike ride and began gardening when she was attacked. He also said that it was after the attack that his mother’s body was dragged into the shed.
Pitney described a grisly scene.
“There was still blood everywhere — all over here — the doors. To be honest, I don’t think it’s really hit me yet,” he told the station. “She was the most loving person, the kindest, sweetest soul anyone’s ever known. This person took a true angel from this world.”
Pitney added that his family was hoping the teen would be charged as an adult. Prosecutors are yet to decide on whether to pursue the certification process required to charge juveniles as adults in Texas.
A GoFundMe to help pay for Magnuson’s funeral expenses can be found here.
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