Son taken charged with murder in the brutal stabbing of his 79-year-old mom
Harris County Sheriff's Office investigators have charged a son, Garry Jenkins in the stabbing death of his 79-year-old mom, Vertie Hamilton found dead inside a home in northeast Harris County. Deputies identified Jenkins, 56 as a "person of interest," and he was spotted at a bus stop on Lockwood near Kelley Street Tuesday morning. Police say he didn't put up a fight after Jenkins was apprehended and taken into custody for questioning.
Deputies responded to the home on Audubon Forest Drive at around 4:30 p.m. Monday, and discovered that Hamilton had been stabbed. Investigators say Jenkins is the son who lived in the home on Audubon Drive. FOX 26 cameras were rolling as police picked up a man who is charged with the murder of his own mother.
Vertie Hamilton’s sister and a neighbor found the 79-year old dead here inside her Humble home where she’s lived more than 30 years. Mrs. Hamilton's sister says the only thing more heartbreaking than that is the possibility her sister’s son is also her killer.
With his 79-year-old mother murdered inside her Humble home, 56-year-old Garry Jenkins seemed to disappear. Until he was spotted at this bus stop and only on Fox we caught Jenkins arrest on camera.
"It is very heartbreaking because I’m not sure what went on," said Sharon Phillips Carter, the victim's sister. Jenkins is actually an Army veteran but also has a long criminal record. In fact, he was just released from prison 5 months ago. He served 21 years for Aggravated Robbery. Out on parole and wearing an electronic ankle monitoring device Jenkins moved back in with his mom here in Humble.
"She was a wonderful woman. She was giving, " added Carter. Carter says her sister loved her son, sending him money every two weeks while he was locked up.
"I just don’t believe it. You don’t want to believe he would do that to his mom? No. I really wouldn’t." The next-door neighbor, Jose Dixon also remarked, "I don’t believe he would do such a thing. It really shocked me." Dixon has lived next door to the family for decades.
A neighbor’s camera caught Jenkins coming home Sunday morning and leaving 11 minutes later. When no one could reach the 79-year-old, Dixon and Carter called 911 and went inside.
"I opened the door. As I opened the door she said Vertie it’s Dianne we’re coming in, " said Dixon. He walked into the family room finding her on the floor covered by a quilt.
"I said wait a minute here. No. No. No. When I looked up she was laying on her side and I saw the handle," Dixon continued. "You saw the handle of the knife sticking from her back? Yes. Yeah."
On Friday, days before Hamilton was killed, there was actually a warrant issued for Garry Jenkins arrest for a parole violation because he missed curfew. Back in March neighbor Jose Dixon testified at a hearing on behalf of Jenkins when he failed to come home. Dixon says Jenkins mom was about to put him out of her home because he was beginning to violate his parole regularly.
Hamilton’s husband died of a heart attack during Harvey and Jenkins missed his father’s funeral because he was in prison.
The aunt said that Hamilton was also a retired U.S. postal worker.
This is a developing story. Please check back to FOX 26 for new updates