A woman who was found dead in her home on Monday was killed by her son, the Ephrata Police Department announced Wednesday.
The body of 62-year-old Lois Gift, who lived in Adamstown Borough, was discovered after police received multiple calls from family and friends who were concerned that she had missed regularly scheduled events.
When Gift was found, there was no obvious cause of death, but police deemed it suspicious, police said.
On Tuesday, a forensic pathologist determined Gift’s death was a homicide, by strangulation, according to police.
Before the discovery of Gift’s body, police responded to a vehicle crash at 12:30 a.m. Monday in Millcreek Township, Lebanon County, police said.
The crash involved Gift’s vehicle which was being driven by her 26-year-old son Zachary T. Gift, police said. Zachary Gift was injured in the crash and transported to Reading Hospital for treatment.
Police said on Wednesday, the son admitted to Ephtata detectives that he fought with his mother on Sunday around 11 p.m., as he was attempting to steal her purse and car keys.
The fight took place in the mother’s bedroom, and Gift said he smothered, then strangled her to death, police said. He then left with his mother’s purse, phone, wallet and car keys, which helped him take her vehicle.
Zachary Gift was still receiving medical treatment from the time of the crash until his arrest on Wednesday morning, police said.
Gift is charged with criminal homicide, strangulation, theft and robbery, according police. He was arraigned and committed to Lancaster County Prison.
Anyone with additional information about the case should contact Detective Rivera at 717-738-9200 x241 or submit a tip through the department’s Crimewatch website.
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