Teenager Attacks Mother with Machete Over Lack of Food in South Sulawesi Home

An 18-year-old teenager, identified as IA, repeatedly attacked his biological mother, AT (36), with a machete in Tana Toraja Regency, South Sulawesi. The alleged perpetrator became enraged after searching for food following an extended gaming session but finding nothing to eat at home.

“The perpetrator swung the machete at the victim repeatedly,” stated Iptu Syahruddin, the Criminal Investigation Unit Chief of Tana Toraja Police, in his account released Monday, 2 March 2026.

The incident occurred in RT Bulen, Kamali Pentalluan Village, Makale, on Monday, 2 March at approximately 11:40 Wita (Western Indonesian Time). The perpetrator had finished playing video games and was hungry, searching for food to eat. Upon discovering none was available in the house, he became angry, immediately seized a machete, and launched an assault against the victim, his biological mother.

“After finishing his gaming session and finding no food to eat, the perpetrator became angry, immediately took a machete, and committed assault against the victim, who is his biological mother,” explained Syahruddin.

As a result of the assault, the victim sustained multiple open wounds to her hands, feet, back, and a bite wound to her arm. The victim was evacuated to hospital for medical treatment.

“Lacerations on both hands, both feet, and genital area. There are abrasions on the right foot and right back, and bite wounds on the right arm and right back,” Syahruddin detailed.