New Castle Man Arrested In Murders Of Mentally Handicapped Man And His Caretaker
NEW CASTLE, DE (CBS) -- A New Castle, Delaware man was arrested on Sunday evening in connection with the double homicide in New Castle.
Delaware State Police say 50-year-old Mactavish M. Alexander is charged with two counts of murder and related offenses in the beating deaths of Joseph Taylor, who has special needs, and his caretaker, Mary Dale. (Read related story)
The investigation into this incident began shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday after Troopers were called to a residence along the 4000 block of New Castle Avenue in New Castle.
The bodies of Taylor and Dale were discovered when a relative of Taylor went to the residence after the two victims had not been seen or heard from all day.
The Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the deaths, homicide by blunt force trauma to the head. It is believed that the suspect used a hammer to murder the victims.
Police say the Mactavish tried to blow up the house by turning on the gas stove.
Mactavish was arraigned and was being held without bail at Howard R. Young Correctional Institution.
