MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis man was arrested after he allegedly stabbed his mother five times inside a Whitehaven home before “putting her outside.”
Preston Lyons, 41, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder after his mother Rosalind Lyons was found suffering from stab wounds in the 4500 block of Whiteside near Whitesboro Avenue at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
Rosalind Lyons died on the scene.
“She was trying to take care of him and I think he just went off,” said one neighbor who had known the victim for decades. She wished to remain anonymous.
She said the woman’s body was found lying in her driveway.
Another witness told police she tried to help the victim while waiting for the ambulance. The victim told the other woman that “my son hurt me,” according to the police report.
Officers found Preston Lyons inside the home he shared with his mother. He was into custody at which time he allegedly admitted to stabbing the woman five times with a kitchen knife before “putting her outside.”
Inside the home, detectives say they found a bloody knife with a bent six-inch blade on the living room floor.
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It’s still unclear what lead to the incident. However, several neighbors we spoke to who are close to the victim and her family said the suspect is mentally challenged and his mother has been trying to work with him for years.
“I don’t think he meant to do that. I really don’t,” said the neighbor. “I think his mind has just been torn up for a long time.”
Neighbors we talked to only spoke highly of the retired elementary school teacher. They described her as a loving mother and grandmother who did her best to not only care for her family but everyone around her.
“She was a good lady. In fact, she gave me my first mask for COVID,” said the neighbor.