MINNESOTA — It’s only February, but 42-year-old Timothy Peterson may already be the psycho of the year. He is charged with the attempted murder of his neighbor, but it’s more complicated than that.

Peterson is also accused of trying to cut off the victim’s toes, slit his throat, and scalp him.

The victim, Skip Mallas, was working in his garage when Peterson approached him carrying a large knife. He looked delusional and intoxicated. He was chanting and calling himself a “soul collector.”

Then Peterson attacked him with the knife — trying first to cut his toes off. He fought back, grabbing the blade with his hands each time Peterson tried to stab him while chanting “I need to collect your soul!”

After several thwarted attempts at killing Mallas, Peterson stopped attacking and left. Mallas suffered lacerations on his hands and toes, and his cheek got cut when Peterson tried to scalp him, but at least he wasn’t critically injured. He ran to a nearby house for safety and called the police.

When the police arrived, they met Mallas at his house. They went out to his garage where he was attacked, and followed a trail of blood back to Peterson’s house located three doors down.

Inside, they found Peterson wearing bloodstained clothes, and a bloody knife on the couch. They questioned him about the attack, and he said he was “just wrestling” with Mallas.

I get it now! “Soul Collector” is the name of his ultra-violent mental patient wrestling persona.

There was no mention of PCP in the source, but I would not be surprised if Peterson smoked some.

The Soul Collector was charged with second degree attempted murder, second degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and second degree assault with a dangerous weapon that caused substantial bodily harm. If convicted and given the maximum sentence, he could serve up to 57 years in prison.

Sources: 1