Washington Mom Accused of Murdering 5-Year-Old Son, Leaves Father Disturbing Voicemail
A Seattle mother, Cedar Mae Sarten, 43, has been charged with the first-degree murder of her five-year-old son, Robert “Bodhi” Gagner-Sarten, after allegedly using a 20-pound kettlebell to crush his skull before calling his father with the chilling message: “we don’t have a son no more.”
The tragic incident occurred on October 14 at Sarten’s apartment on 10th Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. Emergency responders arrived to find the lifeless body of her son on the bed, with a bloodied knife and the kettlebell nearby. An autopsy confirmed that the young boy suffered blunt force trauma to the head and knife wounds.
Sarten reportedly called her ex-husband, Robert Gagner, leaving a voicemail saying: “Robert, this is really bad, you seriously need to come over here right now. Please don’t freak out. We don’t have a son no more.” She then allegedly slashed herself with a knife before police arrived and took her to a hospital.
Authorities stated that a significant amount of blood was found throughout the apartment. Sarten had previously been convicted of child endangerment after a violent incident involving her son at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in 2020. She had a history of arrests, including charges of assault, theft, and criminal mischief.
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign set up by family and friends described Bodhi as a “sweetest” and “most kind-hearted” little boy who loved cheese pizza and mozzarella sticks. His body will be laid to rest in the village of Ruby, where his grandfather is also buried.
Sarten is being held at the King County Correctional Facility in Washington with a $2 million bail bond. The Fairbanks Police Department is continuing its investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Robert Hall at 907-450-6500.
