A chilling voicemail has emerged of an mother in Alaska telling her ex-partner that ‘we don’t have a son no more’ – after she allegedly beat their 5-year-old boy to death with a heavy kettlebell.
Cedar Sarten, 43, phoned Robert Gagner to deliver the horrific news that their 5-year-old son, Robert ‘Bodhi’ Gagner-Sarten, was dead, with the haunting words: ‘Please don’t freak out. We don’t have a son no more.’
Sarten left three voicemails for Gagner after the death of their son in Fairbanks on Oct. 13, according to police criminal complaints obtained by Law&Crime.
‘Robert this is really bad you seriously need to come over here right now,’ she told Gagner, according to the reports.
According to his obituary, the five-year-old died on October 14.
Public Information Officer Teal Soden described the scene discovered by the responding officer as ‘pretty horrific,’ with the child suffering from ‘injuries that were consistent with him being cut or stabbed.’
‘[Sarten] called 911 reporting someone had “crashed” her son’s brain with a 20-pound weight,’ the report said. ‘The Defendant indicated her son was definitely dead.’
‘In response to the dispatcher’s questions about what had happened, the Defendant stated she did not know. She stated the last time she had seen her son alive was when he was falling asleep in her arms at approximately 1:00 or 2:00 am.’
According to the autopsy report, the child’s cause of death was significant blunt force trauma to his head and brain.
There were also ‘multiple injuries consistent with a sharp object, including a stab wound to his right chest.’
After the alleged killing, the mother attempted to commit suicide.
Court records show that Sarten has a violent past with more than 20 arrests, including a 2022 conviction for reckless endangerment against her son. In that incident, when the child was just 16 months old, Sarten ‘grabbed onto his head and twisted it,’ police said.
Other charges included felony theft, assault, and criminal mischief.
Soden said she the mother has been hospitalized since the incident.
‘We’re hoping this week that she’ll be actually be arrested,’ he said.
Sarten also called Gagner from the hospital and said: ‘I know you’re mad as hell at me cause he died on my watch. I called you, okay. I called you. I knew something was wrong. I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying.’
Gagner said his wife had been acting unusual in the days leading up to the attack, according to the documents.
‘Mr. Gagner dropped off [the child] the evening of October 13, consistent with the custody agreement. Gagner reported that the Defendant’s behavior seemed off.’
According to his obituary, Bodhi was a ‘sweet, talkative, and kind-hearted boy, renowned for his beautiful smile that brightened every room.’
‘He cherished outdoor activities, especially camping with his father, playing at his favorite playground, and collecting rocks by the water. His love for dinosaurs and cheese pizza knew no bounds.’
‘Bodhi’s friendly and outgoing nature made him a beloved figure among his peers, always eager to invite others to play. His big heart and infectious laughter left an indelible mark on his family and friends.’
He is survived by his father, his two siblings, and his grandmother.