Police: Son admits smothering elderly mom, breaking dog’s neck

A 50-year-man charged with murder in the death of his mother told investigators that he smothered the 85-year-old woman with duct tape and his hand, then snapped the family dog’s neck because it wouldn’t stop barking.

Kenneth Edward Baker indicated to homicide detectives that he killed Margaret Shelton, who police say had the onset of dementia or Alzheimer’s, because she was very belligerent and accusatory.

“This was not a mercy killing,” said homicide Detective E.C. Pate of the Aug. 31 homicide. “The victim fought and resisted his efforts to kill her.”

Baker remained in the Tarrant County Jail Tuesday in lieu of $250,000 bail. He was formally charged Saturday with murder in the case, court records show.

Baker had called 911 on the afternoon of Aug. 31, telling dispatchers that he had killed his mother.

When officers arrived at the home in the 6900 block of Heritage Lane in south Fort Worth, Baker answered the door and told them they’d find his dead mother in the bathroom, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

Shelton’s body was then located in the bathroom, covered by a towel, the affidavit states.

In a voluntary interview with Pate and homicide Detective Jerry Cedillo, Baker again confessed to killing his mother. He said he suffocated Shelton with duct tape and his hand, the affidavit states.

Because his parent’s dog, a Terrier, kept barking during and after the slaying, Baker indicated that “he went and twisted the dog’s neck until it did not bark anymore,” Pate said.

The dog was found dead in the home’s garage, police have said.

A neighbor had described Shelton as a kind, good neighbor. They said Baker had been living with his parents for about six weeks.

This story was originally published September 6, 2016 at 11:57 AM with the headline "Police: Son admits smothering elderly mom, breaking dog’s neck."