ATLANTIC COUNTY – An Atlantic City man was indicted for murder today for killing his mother in her Atlantic City home last October, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.
A 9-1-1 call received on October 12, 2014 at 6:29 a.m. prompted the response of Atlantic City Police and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit to 1812 McKinley Avenue, Atlantic City.
Upon arrival, police found the resident, Gwendolyn Pratt, 64, dead of apparent head injuries. The victim’s son, Steven Pratt, 46, of the same address, was found at the scene and detained by police.
Personnel of the State Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene. An autopsy conducted later in the morning determined the manner of death to be homicide, the cause of death: blunt force head injuries.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain authorized the charge of murder against Steven Pratt. Pratt was lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $1 million cash bail, set by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Noah Bronkesh.
Pratt had been released from New Jersey State Prison two days before the murder, on Friday, Oct. 10, 2014, after completing a 30-year prison sentence for a 1984 murder.
Today, April 1, 2015, an Atlantic County Grand Jury indicted Pratt for the crime of murder.
A conviction for murder carries a potential penalty of incarceration in New Jersey State prison for 30 years to life.
This charge is merely an accusation and not proof of guilt. In all criminal cases, a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
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