A 28-year-old woman has been charged with second-degree murder following a Thursday night assault in a northside home that claimed the life of her 54-year-old mother.
According to members of the Lethbridge Police Service, officers responded to a home in the 2300 block of 18 Street North shortly after 9:30 p.m. following reports a woman had been beaten. Police found an injured 54-year-old woman and she was transported to Chinook Regional Hospital.
The woman’s injuries proved fatal and she passed away in hospital. The deceased has been identified as Shelley Kristine Praill of Lethbridge. An autopsy confirmed Praill's death was the result of a stab wound.
A suspect, 28-year-old Jessica Lee Ann Praill of Lethbridge, was arrested at the scene of the attack. Investigators believe the mother and daughter were involved in an argument that escalated and ended with the fatal stabbing.
“We determined that there has been some kind of ongoing dispute between mother and daughter at the residence which ultimately ended with a physical altercation and ultimately the death of Shelley Praill,’ said LPS Staff Sergeant Scott Woods. “There were some other individuals inside the residence at the time of the incident that greatly assisted and expedited our investigation.”
On Friday, Jessica Praill was charged with second-degree murder in connection with her mother's death. Praill remains in police custody.
Praill is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
