LANCASTER – A 49-year-old Lancaster man was sentenced Thursday to 15 years to life in state prison for strangling his elderly mother and trying to stuff her in an oven in late 2013.
Shelton Eugene Bradley received the sentence after pleading no contest June 17 to one count of second-degree murder in the killing of 73-year-old Rosie Manuel, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
On Dec. 19, 2013, Manuel was found naked and unresponsive on the kitchen floor of her Lancaster residence in the 44000 block of Beech Avenue, according to sheriff’s officials. Hours later, her youngest son was arrested and later charged with his mother’s murder.
At a preliminary court hearing last year, sheriff’s homicide detective Ray Lugo testified that Shelton Bradley confessed during a police interview to strangling his mother because he thought she was a witch and he was “an elite angel of God.”
According to Lugo, Bradley told detectives he choked his mother until she went limp, then removed her clothes and dragged her body from the bedroom to the kitchen, where he attempted to stuff the woman’s body into the oven to burn it.
Manuel’s other son discovered his mother’s body, propped against the open oven door with the oven tipped slightly over on top of her, according to court testimony.
Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Yulair Wang testified that Rosie Manuel died of strangulation.
Shelton Bradley’s criminal record includes prior convictions for grand theft, unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, robbery and three drug-related offenses between 1992 and 2009, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Bradley has been jailed since his 2013 arrest.
Previous related stories:
Lancaster man ordered to trial for mother’s murder
Elderly woman found dead, son arrested for murder
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Chris says
Well he took his own mothers life and he should die for that after serving his time…..
NON-VIOLENT OFFENDER says
How can he be guilty of murder if he’s a non-violent offender?!
Just look at his arrest record. Maybe there was a misunderstanding.
Unfortunately his mother found out the hard way that the California prison system is flawed. She did not deserve to die such a horrible death and especially at the hands of a person she brought into the world. This man should be sentenced to death or life in prison, at the least.
I praise the system at least for the delayed justice.
Tim Scott says
Where do you see him being called a non violent offender????
dumbandblind says
Do you also see things that aren’t there similar to this delusional monster. If so I suggest you get yourself psycho analyzed quick to ensure your safety and others.
MJ says
Shocking to consider that a guy like this could EVER be let out.
Tim Scott says
It’s a second degree murder conviction on a plea deal, so 15 to life is expected. Sounds like the main evidence against the guy is his confession to the LACSD. The prosecutor probably made a deal rather than risk losing the case entirely if the confession got thrown out. The current level of credibility of the LACSD is not really sufficient to count on fending off a claim that a confession was coerced.