Pa. Man Sentenced After Murdering Mom in Brutal Beating that 'Caved in' Her Face

Mar. 15, 2025

Erik Watkins.Photo:Luzerne County Police

Luzerne County Police

A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to prison for the brutal murder of his mother in 2020, according to multiple reports.

Local WBREreportedthat Erik Michael Watkins pleaded guilty to third-degree murder on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 3, in connection with the death of his mother Patricia Watkins, 60, at her home in Sugar Notch, Pa., on Dec. 13, 2020. Watkins, 43, was sentenced to up to 40 years in prison with time served, according to the outlet.

Watkins reportedly told police that he had smoked marijuana before going to bed and that he began “hearing voices” when, suddenly, a “higher power” urged him to kill his mother.

Soon after, Watkins’ stepbrother found him beating his mother in the face after hearing a loud bang inside the home.

Watkins allegedly yelled “She is dead, my mom is dead, I killed her,” when police arrived on the scene.

TheCitizensVoicereported that responding officers found Patricia dead in a bathtub. Investigators wrote in a criminal complaint that her face had been “caved in” from her son’s attack, according to WBRE and theTimes Leader.

On Tuesday, Watkins tearfully apologized in court, according to the outlet.

Watkins added: “I was suffering from substance abuse disorder and mental health. I took what I though to be Xanax and it sent me into a whirlwind, made me hallucinate, have delusions, things that I cannot describe. I have lost everything because of drugs. Words cannot describe how bad I feel.”

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An autopsy of Patricia’s body following the 2020 murder revealed that she had multiple traumatic injuries, including broken ribs, as well as broken bones in her face and neck, according to theTimes Leader.

By entering a guilty plea, Watkins avoided a mandatory life sentence, according toThe Citizens Voice.

If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

source: people.com