SJ man gets 25-year sentence for mother's slaying
An Atlantic County man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for the fatal beating of his 64-year-old mother two days after being released from prison for a previous slaying, prosecutors said.
An Atlantic County man pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for the fatal beating of his 64-year-old mother two days after being released from prison for a previous slaying, prosecutors said.
Steven Pratt, 47, will serve at least 21 years and three months in prison - at least 85 percent of his 25-year sentence - for killing Gwendolyn Pratt on Oct. 12, 2014.
She had picked him up from Bayside State Prison and threw him a welcome-home party at their house in the 1800 block of McKinley Avenue in Atlantic City.
He had been serving time for a 1984 murder. He was 15 when gunned down a neighbor after an argument and fight.
His mother worked at Resorts Casino Hotel.
On the morning of Oct. 12, police were called to the house and found the elder Pratt dead from massive blunt-force injuries to her head, and her son still at the scene.
Two days later, Steven Pratt sobbed in court and confessed to his mother's death.
"I don't want a trial," he said. "I'm guilty."
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