James Ashby, 57, is now in police custody charged with killing Margaret Ashby, 81, around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday inside their shared home in the 4200 block of Malta Street.
According to police, Ashby strangled his elderly mother while she slept.
He then intended to kill his 49-year-old sister, police said, who also lived in the same home. However, he found that she was awake.
So, investigators tell Action News, Ashby told his sister to call the police because he was about to kill her.
When officers arrived, he told them, "I killed her," apparently referring to his mother. Police say he told them he couldn't take the stress of living in the home with both his mother and sister anymore.
Ashby was taken into custody without incident. Police say, right now, they have no evidence that he has any history of psychological problems.
Sources say Ashby gave police a statement while still wearing his pajamas.
There was no indication that his sister was harmed.
