Lataya Powell shares feelings of 'guilt' when questioned by a reporter after her arrest on March 29, 2024 (WBRE/WYOU screengrab)
A 13-year-old girl in Pennsylvania allegedly fatally stabbed her mother in broad daylight last Friday and then expressed 'regret, guilt, and self-disgust' to a news reporter at the scene as she was escorted into a police van while handcuffed.
The suspect, publicly identified as Lataya Powell since being charged as an adult with criminal homicide and other crimes, is accused of repeatedly and fatally stabbing her 44-year-old mother, Tameeka Tucker, in the 'torso and head area', and injuring an 11-year-old boy at their residence in Wilkes-Barre.
The Wilkes-Barre Police Department said responded to the scene shortly after 12:30 p.m. on Good Friday and discovered Powell's mother 'nonresponsive' at their South Sherman Street home.
“The initial investigation revealed that the 44-year-old victim had apparent wounds to the 'torso and head area' and was unresponsive. Another victim and the suspect were also found at the scene. The other victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment,” law enforcement officials stated.
The 11-year-old boy who survived the stabbing assault was reportedly discovered injured on a couch inside the residence.
In contrast, the suspect was allegedly found sitting on a bedroom floor with blood on her hands.
As reported by WBRE/WYOU, police claimed in an affidavit that Powell admitted the victim 'took' her phone before their argument turned fatal.
“I don’t have my phone because my mom took it before our fight” and “I don’t know how people can do stuff like this and not feel bad about it,” the 13-year-old allegedly said at the scene. She’s also accused of saying “I'm the reason my mom is dead” and “I killed my mom, and she'll never forgive me if she is alive.”
The Citizens’ Voice further reported Powell stating “I deserve to be in jail.”
The local news affiliates’ cameras were rolling as Powell was taken into custody. Reporter Gianna Galli presented a microphone to the suspect and asked her directly, “Any emotion at all?”
“Regret, guilt, and self-disgust,” Powell could be heard saying.
The juvenile defendant facing a homicide charge as an adult will also have to battle aggravated assault and evidence tampering charges.
The evidence tampering charge seems to result from Powell’s alleged confession to discarding the knife used in the killing in front of a neighboring residence.
Watch the WBRE/WYOU footage of the suspect’s arrest here: