Inset: Mekeshia Lattimore (Middletown Division of Police). Background: The home where Lattimore allegedly killed her mother (WXIX).
A 44-year-old woman in Ohio has been arrested for allegedly killing her own mother, fatally stabbing the 72-year-old woman as she was sitting in a recliner.
Mekeshia Lattimore was taken into custody on Thursday and charged with one count of murder in the slaying of Minnie Lewis, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Middletown Division of Police, officers at about 11:24 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, responded to an emergency call at a residence in the 600 block of 14th Avenue regarding a reported stabbing. The home is about 30 miles north of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders made entry and located an adult female victim — later identified as Lewis — suffering from what appeared to be multiple stab wounds. Emergency medical personnel immediately rushed Lewis to the Atrium Medical Center for treatment. She succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the facility.
Investigators quickly identified Lewis’ daughter, Lattimore, as the suspected assailant. Lattimore had remained at the 14th Avenue home following the stabbing and was promptly taken into custody and charged with murder.
Lattimore was processed in the Middletown City Jail where she remained in detention as of Friday morning.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by the Journal-News provided additional context about the circumstances of Lewis’ death.
According to the report, Lewis’ son was also at the residence at the time of the attack and witnessed his sister stabbing his mother.
The brother told investigators he saw Lattimore standing “over the top of the victim while the victim was sitting in a recliner” and then observed his sister’s “hand and arm moving in a stabbing motion toward the victim,” police wrote in the affidavit. Lewis’ son said he yelled at Lattimore to leave their mother alone as he went over to her and “observed blood coming from the victim’s neck.”
The son then called 911 and reported the stabbing, telling the emergency dispatcher his sister was the attacker and that she was still inside the residence, Newport, Kentucky, Fox affiliate WXIX reported. The station obtained recordings of the 911 call, but said they were “too audibly graphic” to play on television.
Lewis reportedly suffered stab wounds to the face, neck, and head. Police have not released any information regarding a possible motive.
Following her arrest, Lattimore reportedly refused to speak with police investigators. She is currently scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon.
Doris Williams, who lived next door to Lewis, told Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT that Lewis was “a lovely person.”
“She was caring. I can’t help but cry. I just can’t believe she’s gone,” Williams told the station. “I’m really going to miss her.”
Authorities emphasized that the investigation into Lewis’ death remains ongoing and are encouraging anyone with relevant information to contact Detective Glassburn at 513-425-7724 or email [email protected].
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