An 80-year-old man who suffers from Alzheimer's disease is facing a murder charge after Miami-Dade Police say he stabbed his wife to death then drove to a grocery store to call 911.
Abner Peckman Lawton was arrested Sunday afternoon on a second-degree murder charge, according to a Miami-Dade Police arrest report.
Lawton appeared in bond court Monday morning but his hearing was rescheduled for Tuesday. He was represented by an attorney who said he was contacted by Lawton's family but hadn't been retained.
At his appearance, a judge ordered Lawton held without bond.
The attorney said Lawton has a "very advanced case of Alzheimer's." Lawton was ordered to remain behind bars until Tuesday's hearing.
According to the arrest report, Lawton stabbed his wife multiple times at their home on Southwest 90th Street. He then drove to the Publix at 9041 Southwest 107th Avenue and used the customer service phone to call 911, the report said.
Lawton told the 911 operator that he had stabbed his wife and that she was dead. When officers arrived at the Publix they found Lawton with blood all over his clothing, the report said.
Officers went to the couple's house and found Lawton's wife's body with multiple stab wounds, the report said. Her name wasn't released by police.
Lawton was taken into custody and invoked his right to an attorney, the report said.
