A Wisconsin man is accused of killing his father during a violent argument over a spilled bowl of chili. The incident, which unfolded in the small town of Nekoosa, has led to charges of intentional homicide against 26-year-old Jason W. Tourtillott, who allegedly beat his father, 58-year-old Thomas S. Tourtillott, to death.
The altercation reportedly began after Thomas spilled his chili on the couch, an incident that Jason believed was an accident. On July 22, 2021, emergency responders arrived at the Tourtillott family home after receiving a 911 call reporting that a man was unconscious and not breathing. Upon arriving, officers were led by Jason to his father, who was lying lifeless on the floor of a room in the house. As they made their way through the kitchen, Jason pointed to a red splotch on the wall, claiming it was chili. He then apologized to the responding officer, though his actions were inconsistent with his statements.
First responders attempted to resuscitate Thomas, but their efforts proved futile. They noticed several signs of trauma on the victim’s body, including deep lacerations to the head, face, and neck, as well as what appeared to be bruising and a circular wound behind his right ear. Blood was found underneath Thomas’s body and around the living room. Despite attempts at CPR, Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.
During interviews with law enforcement, Jason’s accounts of the day’s events were inconsistent and conflicting. He initially denied any physical altercation with his father, repeatedly claiming that their relationship was loving and free of conflict. However, as police pressed him further, Jason revealed various contradictions, such as his unclear statements about how his father’s shirt had been removed. At times, he denied knowing where it went, and at other times admitted he might have removed it but could not recall where it was placed.
Additionally, Jason claimed that he had been asleep for most of the day, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., yet his phone records contradicted this, showing activity at around 5 p.m. when he should have been resting. The defendant also made reference to his father’s excessive drinking, which he suggested might have played a role in the situation. Jason implied that he was not immediately concerned when he saw his father lying on the floor because he was used to seeing him in such a state after drinking.
The investigation later revealed that Jason had a history of becoming angry, especially when intoxicated. His sister provided further insight into the dynamics at play, stating that Jason had been babysitting her son earlier in the day. She visited the home twice on the day of the incident and recalled that Jason appeared “crabby” and upset during the second visit. She also mentioned that both men were shirtless when she arrived and that it was unusual for her father to be passed out on the floor.
Jason’s sister recounted hearing her brother curse his father, referring to him as a “stupid fer,” after the chili spill incident. She explained that Jason had used this insult when discussing the spill, further painting a picture of a volatile relationship between the two. The nephew of the victim also described hearing yelling from downstairs, along with the sounds of an argument and a slapping noise. The boy recalled hearing Jason yell at his father about an accident on the couch and the victim responding with “I don’t know.” Jason reportedly insisted that the spill wasn’t an accident, escalating the situation.
The investigation also reviewed the 911 call made by Jason, which revealed that he did not seem to be in any physical distress, despite claiming that he had been performing CPR for 30 minutes. Law enforcement concluded that the injuries to Thomas were the result of multiple impacts to his head, consistent with blunt force trauma.
Jason Tourtillott is now being held in the Wood County Jail on a $1 million cash bail, facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide. The case highlights the extreme escalation of a seemingly minor incident into a deadly confrontation, as well as the complexities of familial relationships and the role of alcohol in inflaming tensions.
