Philadelphia Teen To Stand Trial For Bludgeoning Mom

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A 16-year-old South Philadelphia boy has been ordered to stand trial for the murder of his mother in a horrific story of violence, torture, and ultimately, death.

Philadelphia homicide detective Thorsten Lucke says defendant Kendall Anderson told detectives he was tired of arguing with his mother, but considered his plan for three hours before deciding to kill her.

According to the teen's statement, he beat her with a claw hammer as she slept in her bed, then dragged her down to the kitchen while she was still alive to try to to cremate her in the oven.

But first, says prosecutor Jennifer Bretschneider, he allegedly thought about his options but decided he had to complete the job.

"He made a specific determination in his own mind that he was going to finish what he started, and he was going to ensure that his mother in fact was killed," Bretschneider told KYW Newsradio on Tuesday. "The language, according to Detective Lucke, was that he was 'in too deep.' "

And then he allegedly dumped the body of 37-year-old Rashida Anderson in back of their home near 4th and Jackson Streets and covered it with debris.

Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060.