Son wakes to screams as brother stabs mom to death at California home, cops say

A man who woke to his mother’s cries for help found his brother standing over her with a knife in her bedroom, California police reported.

The woman, who had been stabbed repeatedly in her upper body, died on her way to a hospital following the 5:30 a.m. incident Saturday, Nov. 16, Santa Monica police said in a news release.

Vernon Jeremiah Harris, 43, faces a charge of murder in his mother’s death, police said.

He lived at the apartment with her and his two brothers, one of whom was at work at the time of the attack, police said. His brothers served as caregivers to their mom and Harris, whom police said may be disabled.

Officers searched the home and found the weapon used in the attack, police said.

Police ask anyone with information to contact detective Martin Jauregui at martin.jauregui@santamonica.gov or Sgt. Alfonso Lozano at alfonso.lozano@santamonica.gov.

Santa Monica is about a 15-mile drive west from downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 7:07 AM with the headline "Son wakes to screams as brother stabs mom to death at California home, cops say."