COEUR d’ALENE — A man accused of attacking and fatally injuring his elderly mother last September remains in jail on $3 million bail ahead of a six-week trial that could begin late this year.

Neil F. Stratton, 52, of Coeur d’Alene, is charged with first-degree murder, burglary and destruction of evidence, all felonies, in connection with the death of his mother, 77-year-old Susan Stratton. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charges stem from Sept. 18 of last year, when Coeur d’Alene police responded to the 1100 block of East Skyline Drive, where they said Susan Stratton was attacked while in bed, sustaining life-threatening injuries. 

Susan Stratton was transported to Kootenai Health, where police said she remained in critical condition and didn’t regain consciousness. In late September, “after doctors concluded that all possible medical interventions had been exhausted,” she entered hospice care, according to police. 

Legal notices published in December 2025 stated that Susan Stratton was deceased and her son, Neil Stratton, had been appointed personal representative of her estate. 

In April, Coeur d’Alene detectives obtained a warrant for Neil Stratton’s arrest. He emerged as a suspect early in the investigation, police said. Authorities told the public in October they had identified a person of interest and they believed the attack was a “deliberate, isolated act.” 

While working to locate him, detectives learned that Neil Stratton had left North Idaho and planned to travel from California to China, according to police. In 2024 and 2025, he publicly posted numerous photos, videos and writings on Facebook documenting extended trips to China. 

U.S. Marshals arrested Neil Stratton near Los Angeles in April. He was extradited to Coeur d’Alene and held on $1 million bail, an amount that later increased to $3 million. 

In May, a Kootenai County grand jury indicted Neil Stratton on the felony charges. 

Jay Logsdon, Stratton’s attorney and the top public defender for the First Judicial District, said in court Thursday morning that he is preparing a motion to dismiss the indictment. He asked the court to disclose how each grand juror voted on the indictment, arguing that it was necessary to make sure the process was fair. 

Logsdon said his office typically checks to see if jurors have posted publicly on social media about the case, for example, “just to make sure the people who voted in a particular case don’t have an obvious bias that made it through.” 

“There are things my client is supposed to be able to do to make sure it was a fair grand jury,” Logsdon said. “Without that (information), we can’t protect all his rights.” 

Kootenai County Prosecuting Attorney Stan Mortensen argued that the names and voting record of the jurors should not be disclosed and that defense counsel has not identified anything in the transcript from the grand jury proceedings that indicates bias or impropriety. 

“Providing a list of names subjects the grand jurors to intimidation, harassment or retaliation,” he said. 

Though “the secrecy of the grand jury process is sacrosanct,” First District Judge Regina McCrea said it was appropriate to disclose the jurors’ names to the defense for vetting purposes, subject to a protective order. 

The voting record was another matter, McCrea said, and she declined to order its release. 

“From the voting record, you are able to conclude which individual specifically voted in favor of the indictment,” she said. “That opens up the door for intimidation, harassment and retaliation.” 

A six-week trial in the case is scheduled to begin in early November.