Man With AIDS Allegedly Kills Mom, Burns Self
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NEW YORK — A man with AIDS allegedly killed his mother who came from Van Nuys, Calif., to care for him, then set himself on fire but jumped in the shower after deciding he did not want to die, police said today.
Police went to the man’s Manhattan apartment Thursday after receiving a call from the woman’s other son in California, who was worried because he could not reach anyone at the apartment, police spokeswoman Tina Mohrmann said.
The man told police his brother, Earl Imbert, 39, has AIDS and a history of psychological problems.
When police went to the apartment, Imbert, who was incoherent and had blood on his clothing and open sores on his arms, let them in without resistance, Mohrmann said.
Officers found the body of his mother, Leona Imbert, 63, completely wrapped in a blanket. She had been hit on the head with a hammer and a wooden statue.
The woman had planned to take her son back to her home in Van Nuys to take care of him, Mohrmann said. Police found airplane tickets in the apartment.
Imbert was hospitalized in critical but stable condition today with second- and third-degree burns over 25% of his body.
He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
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