Accused of slashing grandma's throat

Gladys Milbourne's apartment was a testament to her faith. The shelves teemed with Bibles, and a plaque on the wall honored her ordination as a minister.

But the Chester Towers apartment in which Milbourne celebrated her faith all too soon became her own shrine.

On Monday, police, who were called to her residence for a well-being check, found Milbourne, 79, "sitting on the couch upright . . . in a state of decomposition," according to the affidavit.

Her neck had been cut open with a kitchen knife, her chest was bruised and her gown bloodied, but the crime scene was "immaculate," said Chester Police Detective Lamont Graves.

Hours later, her 22-year-old grandson, Maurice Milbourne, was arrested and charged with murder after confessing to killing her.

"He said she was meddling and it was her time to go," Graves said.

Beyond that, police said they haven't identified a more specific motive for the slaying.

Police were led to Milbourne by those who believed he was "capable of something like this," Graves said.

Released from prison June 8 for failure to register as a sexual offender, Milbourne, who is homeless, had been jumping from relative to relative.

While staying with his aunt, he allegedly stole a video-game system and was kicked out. After one or two nights with his grandmother, she threw him out, too.

Lately, he'd been staying at the Salvation Army shelter, Graves said.

Milbourne was picked up by police Monday night in Chester and taken to the police station, where police said he confessed.

"It's just a tragic, tragic thing," Graves said. "It's just senseless - all for no apparent reason."

Investigators said Maurice Milbourne told police he had gone to his grandmother's apartment, put her in a "chin lock" and attempted to break her neck.

When she resisted, Maurice said he grabbed a knife, cut her throat and watched her crawl to the sofa and gasp for breath - until she took her last one.

Gladys Milbourne was described by neighbors as a quiet and deeply spiritual person who spent much of her time alone or with a small clique of friends. One of those was the Rev. Flora Turner, who was sitting in the shade yesterday in front of Tower One, where Millbourne lived.

"She had a beautiful personal-

ity," Turner said. "She was just a nice person, wouldn't bother nobody. She'd help you if she could."

"Most people are still in shock about it," said Kathy White, who lives in Tower Two. "She was very well-liked."

Gladys Milbourne was fond of buying dresses at the Cowtown flea market in New Jersey and had been looking forward to moving to Matopos Hills, another Chester Housing Authority development.

"You would always see her by herself, dressed in all white," said Thelma Green, who knew Gladys Milbourne long before she moved into the high-rise on 10th Street and Avenue of the States. "She loved the Lord."

Green said Gladys Milbourne was a born-again Christian, but neighbors said she wasn't known to proselytize.

"It don't make a difference what church she belonged to," Green said. "She had Christ within her. I just called her 'Sister Milbourne.' "

For some Chester Towers residents, Gladys Milbourne's murder - Chester's 16th of the year - brought back memories of Jessie Anderson, the building security guard who was stabbed to death in August 2004.

Maria Zissimos, general counsel for the Chester Housing Authority, said visitors are required to present identification to security guards when entering either building.

But she said it's nearly impossible to prevent an act of violence committed by a family member who is invited in by a resident.

"There's really nothing you can do," Zissimos said. "This is a 79-year-old woman who was trying to help her grandson, and it didn't work out that way."

The 300-unit senior-housing development is scheduled for demolition this year and will be replaced by two four-story buildings.

Maurice Milbourne has been charged with homicide, first-and-third-degree murder, aggravated assault, simple assault, possessing instruments of a crime and recklessly endangering another person. *