Teen charged with killing mother

TOWSON (AP) - Baltimore County police say a 16-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the baseball-bat slaying of his mother and attempted murder in an attack on his father.

Mr. Toohey said Mr. Powell also attacked his father, Lewin Carlton Powell Jr., with a baseball bat as he slept.

The younger Powell and his mother got into an argument Tuesday afternoon about his performance at McDonogh School, Mr. Toohey said. The argument escalated, Mr. Powell got a baseball bat and "beat his mother repeatedly until she was dead," Mr. Toohey said.

Mr. Powell hid his mother's body in the garage, Mr. Toohey said. Mr. Powell's father, who works a night shift, came home around midnight and fell asleep on a sofa, unaware of the violence that had occurred, the spokesman said.

The elder Powell woke up yesterday morning when his son started beating him in the head with a baseball bat, Mr. Toohey said. During the struggle that ensued, the younger Powell admitted to killing his mother, the spokesman said. The elder Powell was able to talk the youth out of killing him, according to police.

By this time, police and Mrs. Campbell-Powell's co-workers were at the front door, worried because she had not shown up for work. The elder Powell was "bleeding from significant wounds to the head," according to Mr. Toohey. Mr. Powell told police, "Thank God you're here; my son killed my wife," Mr. Toohey said.

The elder Powell was taken to Sinai Hospital; the younger Powell was taken to police headquarters and questioned.

Lewin Powell III was held without bail; it was not known if he has an attorney. A bail review will be conducted this morning.

Mcdonogh School, where the younger Powell was a student, is a coeducational day and boarding school in Owings Mills. It has about 1,300 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.