Man Fatally Stabs Mother In Her Santa Monica Bedroom: Police

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 43-year-old man who may suffer from physical and developmental disabilities was arrested on suspicion of murder after stabbing his mother in her bedroom on Saturday, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

Police responded to an apartment on 12th Street near Wilshire Boulevard just after 5:30 a.m. in response to a call made by a man who reported that his brother had stabbed their mother multiple times, police said.

The mother, described as elderly, was suffering from several upper-body stab wounds when police arrived. Police rendered aid to the woman until paramedics arrived. She died from her injuries en route to a local hospital, police said.

The suspect, Vernon Jeremiah Harris, 43, lives in the apartment with his mother and two older brothers. The brother who called police acts as a caregiver for Harris — whom police said "may have physical and developmental disabilities" — as well as their mother, police said.

The brother woke up Saturday morning to hear his mother yelling for help. When he walked into her bedroom, he found Harris standing over her with a knife, police said.

Police executed a search warrant at the apartment and found what they said was the weapon used in the attack.

Harris is being held on $2 million bail. He's due in court on Tuesday, according to jail records.

Harris has no prior criminal record, police said.