Neighbors warned of daughter's increasing aggression before Maplewood mother beaten to death, charges say

A 17-year-old Twin Cities girl is charged with murdering her mother in a case that police call "tragic and deeply disturbing."

Investigators say the girl beat her mother — earlier identified by police as 43-year-old Georgina Monk — to death inside their apartment in Maplewood early Saturday morning.

A neighbor told police the two had argued after the mother took away her daughter's phone. Another neighbor said they had talked with the victim multiple times about her daughter's "increasing aggression," according to the criminal complaint. He added that he heard the girl screaming something to the effect of "I'll do it, I'll do it," the evening prior.

Surveillance video allegedly showed the girl leaving the building with a hammer just before 5:30 a.m.

Initially, charges say the girl told investigators she had a normal evening with her mom and that she heard loud screaming and a thud around 3 a.m. that she thought had come from an upstairs apartment. She added that her mother had asked her to put the hammer in the garage and indicated it had been in the home for protection.

She eventually said to police that a thought came into her head to "Get rid of anybody who hurt you in your life or anybody who dared to hurt you," and her mom was the closest, according to charges.

In an interview with investigators, her boyfriend's father said they had routinely talked about trying to emancipate the suspect from her mother so she could live with them. He added that she had issues with her mom and that there had been at least one physical altercation between the two in the past.

Charges say the girl told her boyfriend, in a jail call, "It wasn't just rage, I just couldn't handle it no more."

Prosecutors want to see the girl tried as an adult.

"She was an amazing soul"

Friends say Monk, who also went by Gigi, centered her life around helping others. She built a community through art and connection.

"Yeah, we miss Gigi so much. We miss her so much. She was an amazing soul," Prince Cole said.

Being creative wasn't just a hobby for Monk. It was who she was.

"Gigi was in charge of the art department in the support group," Prince Cole said.

Agnes and Prince Cole say they met Monk more than five years ago through their nonprofit Disability Motivational Network.

"Gigi had become so close. My children love Gigi, they know Gigi very well, they call her Auntie Gigi," Prince Cole said.

They say she was a fierce advocate who made it her mission to support people with disabilities despite her health battles. Prince Cole said Monk also "always thought about her daughter."

Prince Cole said he last spoke to Monk Thursday night, hours before her death, and she seemed fine.

"I'm so mad," he said. "I think one of the questions that we would have is why?"

Monk's loved ones plan to come together for a celebration of life soon.

For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224.