Police identify mother, daughter found stabbed to death in Northeast Philadelphia, person in custody

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two women, who appear to be mother and daughter, were found stabbed to death in the basement of a home in Philadelphia's Crescentville section Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Police responded to the Northeast Philadelphia home in the 6000 block of Bingham Street just after 1:30 p.m. 

Investigators said they found two women, identified Wednesday as 75-year-old Angela Trejo and 58-year-old Alma Barberena, suffering several stab wounds in the basement of the home. Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said the 75-year-old appears to be the 58-year-old woman's mother.

Emergency response crews pronounced both Trejo and Barberena dead at 1:45 p.m. 

On Wednesday, police confirmed that a man was taken into custody for questioning in connection with the deaths.

Vanore said they're in the early stages of the investigation and interviewing neighbors and family members. The stabbing doesn't appear to be a home invasion, he added. 

Vanore said an officer was let inside the home by a neighbor. The doors were locked when police arrived, he added. 

Jack Burkhart, a neighbor, said the women were "just very nice people." He said he spoke to the mother just a day prior. 

"Just to say hello," he said. "She had asked how my wife was doing, and [it's] just hard to believe because they were really nice neighbors."

The Philadelphia Police Department's homicide unit is actively investigating the incident. Police were seen Tuesday evening towing away two Volvo SUVs and talking to neighbors.

Vanore said police plan to use video from homes on Bingham Street as part of their investigation.

In:
• Northeast Philadelphia
• Fatal Stabbing
• Philadelphia