Friday, September 17, 2010

Globe, AZ: Police: Arizona woman admits killing son-in-law in his Mifflintown home

Sara Ganim - sganim@centredaily.com
September 16, 2010 12:38pm EDT

A 54-year-old Globe, Arizona woman was charged Thursday in the killing of her 36-year-old son-in-law, who she told police, struck her with a TV food tray right before she shot him.

Police say Brenda S. Smith confessed to the shooting just after midnight Thursday while being questioned by police. Investigators initially believed her 36-year-old son-in-law, Michael J. Hockenberry may have committed suicide after their verbal argument turned physical around 8 p.m. Wednesday night.

But when investigators arrive, "...the scene was found to be suspicious and an autopsy was scheduled for the victim," state police wrote in a press release.

Smith initially told police that she heard a gunshot as she left the house, at 19 Cedar St., in Mifflintown Borough. She said Hockeberry hit her with a TV tray while they were fighting.

She changed her story, confessing to shooting him before driving to the state police barracks to report the assault.

Smith was arraigned on criminal homicide charges and sent to Juniata County jail without any bail by District Judge Barbara Lyter.

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