Man admits to stabbing, killing his mother in Upper Darby Township: Affidavit
UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- New details are now emerging about a domestic violence incident on Monday afternoon in Drexel Hill that turned deadly.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by Action News, Upper Darby Township police were called to a home along the 4600 block of State Road for a report of a woman in cardiac arrest.
When officers got there, the complaint states they found a man outside of the home screaming that his mother, identified as 51-year-old Michelle Fleming, was dead.
"When officers went inside, it was immediately apparent that she was deceased and suffering from multiple stab wounds," said Upper Darby Township Police Superintendent Timothy Bernhardt.
He said Fleming had been stabbed 12 times in the chest.
As officers investigated on the scene, Bernhardt said they learned Fleming had another son, identified as 20-year-old Quadir Ford.
Bernhardt said Ford had left Fleming's home that afternoon in her car with her phone.
Upper Darby Township police were able to track Ford to Springfield Township, where police there stopped the car and took Ford into custody.
The criminal complaint states that while in custody, "Ford admitted to killing his mother with a silver knife after an argument, and then placed the knife, a pair of gloves, and a mask that were utilized during the homicide into a trash can in the rear of the property."
Bernhardt said police have had prior contact with Ford, but he said they had never responded to a domestic incident between him and his mother in the past.
Bernhardt said Ford admitted to investigators that his relationship with his mother was strained.
"The two of them were very accusatory toward each other over the course of the years," Bernhardt said.
"It's a sad, sad state of affairs when family members result to that type of violence," he added.
Ford is now facing several charges, including first-degree murder.
According to Bernhardt, domestic violence cases in the township have been on the rise since the end of 2025. He said the 'Domestic Abuse Project' has help available 24/7 at police headquarters.
"People just aren't taking the opportunity to get that help, or separating themselves from those individuals they are in that toxic relationship with," he explained.
