The district attorney’s office in Amarillo, Texas, accuses Michael Alexander Ferguson of killing his own grandmother. What makes this sad case so extraordinary: Cecilia Agnes Ferguson was 106 years old at the time of her death. This makes her the oldest murder victim in American criminal history.
Despite her old age, Ferguson still lived at home. This happened with the help of her grandson Michael, who lived with her in the small house and cared for his grandmother.
At the end of November, the 35-year-old alerted the police. He found his grandmother. According to local TV station KFDA, investigators at the scene found signs that the death had occurred under “suspicious circumstances.”
Evidence in charge of grandson
The grandson denied having anything to do with the death. But the autopsy report and the medical examiner’s report showed the cause of death was clearly intentional. Soon after, investigators came across clues that clearly pointed to Michael as the suspected killer.
Arrest warrant on suspicion of murder
A day before Christmas, a court issued an arrest warrant for the 35-year-old on suspicion of murder. He must remain in custody at the Potter County Detention Center pending trial and is not eligible for bail.
Ferguson is not a blank slate for the authorities. In 2013, he was sentenced to two years in prison for grievous bodily harm – after assaulting two family members. In 2021, he was arrested again, this time for a “serious traffic violation.”
The death toll breaks a sad record
According to Thomas Hargrove, founder of the nonprofit Murder Accountability Project, murders of people age 99 or older are statistically rare in the United States. There have been only 130 cases since 1976. In no case was the victim older than Ferguson. In an email query, Hargrove wrote: “The oldest case I know of was a nearly 102-year-old who was stabbed to death during a robbery in New York State in 2018.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
