A teenager who was charged with murdering her mother has confessed that her phone was taken away before the fatal stabbing.
The Wilkes-Barre City Police Department disclosed in a press release that officers were called on Friday (March 29) to a home on South Sherman Street in Wilkes-Barre "for an unresponsive female".
Upon arrival, the scene was secured and authorities found a 44-year-old woman, identified as Tameeka Tucker by CBS News, who had suffered wounds to the torso and head area.
The coroner’s office pronounced the victim dead at the scene. An autopsy is currently pending.
Read the press release below:
According to an affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, cops discovered no knives or other sharp tools at the scene but noticed that the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen were all padlocked except one, which seemed to have been damaged.
A second victim, reported to be an 11-year-old boy, was also located in the home and taken to the hospital for treatment, police revealed on Facebook. The boy had apparent stab wounds to the back, but the injuries seemed to be non-life threatening, per WBRE/WYOU.
Police officers detained a 13-year-old girl named Lataya Powell who is believed to be the suspect. She was taken to police headquarters where she was later placed under arrest.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by WBRE/WYOU, the teen allegedly made various comments while in custody, telling cops that she threw the weapon she used onto a neighbor’s doorstep.
She also allegedly said: "I killed my mom and she’ll never forgive me if she is alive," and: "I’m the reason my mom is dead," and reportedly told officers: "I don’t have my phone because my mom took it before our fight."
The criminal complaint allegedly states that Powell expressed regret and remorse for the murder, adding: "I don’t know how people can do stuff like this and not feel bad about it."
A neighbor who found the knife on her front porch said she was working in her backyard at the time of the crime. "I’m just thankful I wasn’t out here because you never know what could’ve happened," per Local 21 News.
"But I look at it that something good could come out of this and that she can get the help she needs," the neighbor continued. "My prayers go out to the family and I’m sorry this happened."
Powell was charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and "other related charges," Wilkes-Barre police revealed in the press release.
She was charged as an adult and is now in the Luzerne County Correctional facility where she awaits her preliminary hearing scheduled for April 10th.
It has not been reported if she has legal representation to comment on her behalf.
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