Authorities: Atlantic City man just freed from prison kills mom
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Authorities say a convicted murderer beat his mother to death during an argument, just two days after he was freed from prison.
The Press of Atlantic City reports that 64-year-old Gwendolyn Pratt was found dead around 6:30 a.m. Sunday at a home in Atlantic City. Authorities say it appeared that she died from head injuries.
Her 45-year-old son, Steven Pratt was detained at the scene and charged with murder. He was being held on $1 million bail, and it was not known if he has retained an attorney.
A neighbor of the victim told the newspaper that she heard a loud argument coming from the Pratt home around 2 a.m. and was tempted to call the police. But she ultimately decided not to call, because she had been criticized for being "too quick to call" police on neighbors in the past.
Pratt was 15 when he shot and killed his next-door neighbor, Michael Anderson, in 1984. He was tried as an adult and convicted of first-degree murder in 1986. He received a 30-year state prison term and was freed on Friday.
According to court records, Pratt and Anderson argued after Pratt and some of his friends refused to leave an apartment hallway where they were noisily hanging out. Pratt returned to Anderson's apartment with a lead pipe, but Anderson took the weapon away and bloodied Pratt's face.
Pratt then returned with the borrowed handgun and shot Anderson.
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Information from: The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.)
