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Police charge 19-year-old with murder, assault in Bridesburg stabbings of mother, grandmom

Police said Saturday they have charged a 19-year-old man with murder and other offenses for stabbings that killed his mother and left his grandmother critically wounded in their Bridesburg home.

Police said Saturday they have charged a 19-year-old man with murder and other offenses for stabbings that killed his mother and left his grandmother critically wounded in their Bridesburg home.

Charged is Zachary Pritchett, who called police Friday morning and reported that three unknown men had entered the home on the 2800 block of Reynolds Street and attacked the family. He did not give officers a description of the suspects but did reveal where a kitchen knife used in the attacks was hidden.

Inside the living room on the first floor, officers of the 15th District found Pritchett's 73-year-old grandmother, Joan Wiley, in a hospital-type bed. She had multiple stab wounds to the face, neck, and upper torso.

Police said Pritchett directed officers to the third floor, where his mother, Melizza Wiley, 53, was dead of multiple stab wounds to the face, neck, and upper torso.

His mother was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:27 a.m. by medics. Pritchett and his grandmother were taken to the Aria Torresdale Hospital, where the grandmother was listed Saturday in critical condition.

Pritchett is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and related offenses. Police reported no motive for the attack.