LETHBRIDGE – A Calgary woman has been charged with the murder of her 78-year-old mother.
Lisa Freihaut was charged Friday with one count of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her mother, Irene Carter.
Carter’s body was discovered by Freihaut and her husband in her home on Normandy Road South just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 17, police said.
Freihaut gave an emotional statement on April 7, asking for the public to help find her mother’s killer. She told media at Calgary Police Headquarters that her family was frustrated that no one had been charged with her mother’s murder for more than two months.
Friday night, Lethbridge police Staff Sgt. Scott Woods said Freihaut was “definitely a suspect” in the case when she gave the emotional plea, which was set up by the Lethbridge Police Service.
“We had set up and asked her to make a plea for any assistance or any people, witnesses that we maybe were not aware of to come forward and assist us in our investigation,” Woods said.
“At that point in time we were still looking for some additional information or evidence to further add to our investigation to firm up and arrest and ultimately charge second-degree against her.”
Watch below: Lisa Freihaut, now accused in her mother’s death, gives an emotional plea for information April 7, 2016
An investigation determined Freihaut and Carter were involved in a dispute over finances and got into a physical altercation, which police said resulted in the senior’s death.
Police originally classified the death as suspicious, but an autopsy later revealed Carter was stabbed to death.
Woods said police believe Carter was killed on Jan. 13, four days before her body was found.
READ MORE: Death of 78-year-old Lethbridge woman ruled a homicide
Freihaut was arrested at a police station in Calgary on Friday morning. Woods said she was at the station to meet with an officer regarding another investigation.
“I don’t have all the details on that, very little, so I’m not in a position to comment on that. But they had an investigation where she was involved and they needed to speak to her on,” Woods said.
Watch below: Lethbridge police Staff Sgt. Scott Woods addresses the media Friday night
Woods said police are still trying to track down a woman who goes by the name of Terri or Terri Lynn. Officers believe she may have more information which will help in the investigation.
READ MORE: Irene Carter homicide – Alberta police seek woman with pink coat
Woods said officers do not expect to charge anyone else in Carter’s death, which was Lethbridge’s first homicide of 2016.
Freihaut is scheduled to appear in Lethbridge court via CCTV on Monday.
Comments