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Woman Arrested For Fatally Stabbing Her Mother In Brighton Heights

BRIGHTON HEIGHTS (KDKA)- A woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly stabbing in Brighton Heights.

Police were called to a home on Verner Court around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday for a report of a domestic dispute.

When they arrived at the home, they found 65-year-old Madeline Bernard on the couch with a stab wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A short time later, police arrested 37-year-old Sommer Bernard. She was taken to police headquarters for questioning and later charged with criminal homicide.

sommer-bernard
(Photo Courtesy: Allegheny County Jail)

"The alleged suspect fled the scene on foot. She was picked up a short time later up the street and transported to headquarters for questioning," Pittsburgh Police Spokeswoman Emily Schaffer said.

Sommer is a relative of Madeline Bernard. A source close to the case told KDKA that she is Madeline's daughter.

According to the criminal complaint, the two women got into an argument inside the house. Police say Sommer Bernard went into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. When she returned to the living room, a witness told police that Sommer held Madeline's legs down and stabbed her in the chest.

According to the complaint, Madeline Bernard also had bruises on her face and her right eye, bruises on her chin and some defensive wounds.

Officers collected numerous pieces of evidence at the scene, including $247 in cash and a knife believed to be the murder weapon that was found by the front door with a broken tip.

The witness ran from the scene and called police for help.

Sommer Bernard is being held in the Allegheny County Jail. She was charged with criminal homicide.

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