Cops: 2 Facing Murder Charges In Deaths Of Elderly Couple In Strawberry Mansion
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Two suspects are facing murder charges in the deaths of an elderly couple who were found in their Philadelphia home late last week.
Investigators say the suspects confessed to their alleged roles in the strangulation deaths of 66-year-old Algladis ("Gladys") Perry and 79-year-old Rufus Perry.
The suspects have been identified by investigators as 26-year-old Terry Ballard and 19-year-old Justen Smith.
The couple was found in their home in the 2500 block of Spangler Street last Thursday morning (see related story).
Investigators say Ballard and Smith confessed to suffocating the retired couple in their home.
The couple's 39-year-old daughter found them in the living room and called the authorities.
During a news conference this afternoon, investigators said the suspects were hired by the victims to do odd jobs around their house.
The motive, investigators said, was robbery.
Smith and Ballard are now facing two counts each of murder, burglary, robbery, and criminal conspiracy.