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Teen charged with killing mom, stabbing grandma

Zachary Pritchett, 19, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with the double stabbing.

A 19-year-old man has been charged with stabbing his mother to death and critically injuring his grandmother last week at the home they shared in Bridesburg. Zachary Pritchett, 19, was charged with murder, aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with the double stabbing that occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Friday.

Pritchett, who was at the scene when officers arrived, told cops that the family was the victim of a home invasion committed by three men, police said. That story later proved to be false, according to police, and Pritchett was charged with the violent acts. Authorities had not released a motive in the case.

Pritchett's mother, Melizza Wiley, 53, was pronounced dead at the scene from stab wounds to her face, neck and torso, police said. His grandmother, Joan Wiley, 73, also was found with stab wounds to the face, neck and torso. She remained in critical but stable condition at Aria Health's Torresdale hospital.