A thirteen-year-old girl has been charged with murder after stabbing her mother to death, according to Pennsylvania police.
Lataya Powell allegedly stabbed her mother, Temeeka Tucker, 44, and younger brother, 11, at their home in 20 block of South Sherman Street in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
She is being charged as an adult with homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence.
Local news footage from PA Home shows the moment Powell is led away in handcuffs by police and is asked by a reporter if she has ‘any emotion at all’ about what she did.
Powell, wearing a red tartan-patterned shirt and pants, responds ‘regret, guilt and self-disgust’ before being placed in the back of a police vehicle.
Lataya Powell, 13, allegedly stabbed her mother and younger brother, 11,
The attack occurred at their home in 20 block of South Sherman Street in Wilkes-Barre on Friday.
Powell reportedly told police that ‘I killed my mom and she’ll never forgive me if she is alive’.
Powell also told them she threw the weapon on the neighbor’s doorstep, according to a police affidavit.
Security camera footage supported her claim, investigators said.
Once in custody the affidavit states that Powell told police: ‘I don’t have my phone because my mom took it before our fight,’ and ‘I’m the reason my mom is dead.’
Police said they found the mother with multiple stab wounds to her neck, back and heavy blood flow coming from her head when they arrived on the scene.
She was later pronounced dead by the Luzerne County coroner.
The 11-year-old boy on the scene with apparent stab wounds to the back is expected to recover.
In a statement released on Saturday investigators said they noted that kitchen drawers and cabinets were padlocked in the home.
Investigators said they noted that kitchen drawers and cabinets were padlocked in the home
Powell also told them she threw the weapon on the neighbor’s doorstep, according to a police affidavit
One drawer used to store cutlery had been broken into with the padlock found on the ground nearby.
Powell was also allegedly found with blood-stained hands, according to the police.
Neighbors told News 16 that the family were new to the neighborhood.
‘I’m just thankful I wasn’t out here because you never know what could’ve happened,’ one neighbor told Fox 56.
‘But I look at it that something good could come out of this and that she can get the help she needs. My prayers go out to the family and I’m sorry this happened,’ they added.