Oregon man who 'clobbered' his mom to death with baseball bat gets life in prison
08/30/2022 1:28 pm PDT
HILLSBORO, Ore. (TCD) -- A Washington County man was found guilty of killing his mother by beating her with a baseball bat and refusing to help her before paramedics arrived.
According to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, on Aug. 25, a jury found Garth Patrick Beams guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. A judge then sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
On July 19, 2018, Beams reportedly called 911 to report he had "clobbered" his mom, 74-year-old Wendy Henson, with a baseball bat. The District Attorney’s Office said Beams spoke with dispatchers for 15 minutes "detailing his many complaints about his mother," and he "indicated he was not interested in helping her."
Tualatin Police Department officers arrived at the scene and found Henson inside the residence with wounds to the head. She was transported to a hospital, where she later died.
Henson was reportedly a screenwriter and author.
According The Oregonian/Oregon Live, Beams was in a conservatorship and his mother controlled his finances after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1995. The two reportedly began arguing as Henson got older due to her need for additional care.
He reportedly said in the 911 call, "I don’t know if she’s going to live, but I am not really concerned about her medical care."
At the hearing, Garth’s brother said, "Garth’s crime shattered what was left of our family. There are only broken pieces to pick up. I feel stuck in a boxing match, fighting against bitterness and outrage."
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