A 77-year-old grandmother was found stabbed to death in her own garage inside a gated community in an Atlanta suburb on Saturday.
Eleanor Bowles was discovered dead by her son around 5.30pm – hours following Antonio Brown, 23, allegedly broke into her Buckhead home and stabbed her in a carjacking gone wrong , officials said.
Police believe Brown broke into Bowles’ garage around 11:30 a.m. and was attempting to steal his 2021 Lexus RS350 when she entered and broke up the alleged theft.
He then allegedly stabbed her multiple times and took off in her car, police said. The vehicle was tracked and recovered by police Saturday night in DeKalb County.
It is unclear how Brown gained access to the gated community.
Bowles’ son was visiting his mother for the holidays when he arrived at the Paces West Terrace home on Saturday evening to find her lifeless and bleeding body in the garage. Police pronounced him dead at the scene.
“The son came home to visit his mother for the holidays…” Atlanta Deputy Chief Charles Hampton Jr. said at a press conference. “This is no way for a family to spend their holiday season, mourning and mourning the death of a loved one.”
Brown was arrested Monday and charged with murder, aggravated assault, possession of a knife, elder abuse and hijacking a motor vehicle. He was incarcerated in the Fulton County Jail.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said someone recognized Brown in the person of interest photo released by officials and called the police, which led to his arrest.
“The murder of Ms. Bowels naturally shakes our community. My heart aches for these family members,” Dickens said at a news conference announcing Brown’s arrest.
He also announced the arrest of a third suspect in the murders of a 12- and 15-year-old boy last month.
“I share our community’s outrage and grief,” Dickens said of the recent tragedies. “Let me be very clear to those who want to do harm in our community, who want to perpetrate these crimes – if you take out a gun or a knife in our city to hurt, hurt or kill someone, you will be arrested and sent to jail. “
