70-Year-Old Woman Beaten To Death By Deranged Man, Neighbor-Suspect In Custody

A 35-year-old man is the main suspect in the death of a 70-year-old woman at her Willow Oaks home. Killed while she was in bed is 70-year-old Patrice Ward with the motive behind the murder still unknown. He is facing charges of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with intent to commit other felony and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

The primary suspect is Gilbert Viera who has a criminal record. The 35-year-old was previously imprisoned for burglary. However, it appears Viera has been on the warpath in different previous incidents. This includes kicking down the door of another home less than a mile away from the house of Ward.

According to KHOU-11, Viera attacked a husband and wife with a tire iron or a handgun as the couple was lying down in bed. Both were reportedly asleep when that incident began. Further, Vierra allegedly stole their vehicle but left incriminating evidence in the form of one of two guns stolen from the residence of Ward. Also, the stolen vehicle was found at the Willow Oaks Townhomes. The 70-year-old was beaten death while also in bed on Tuesday, ABC 13 reported.

Viera’s predicament is expected to grow worse with the recent events. He lived just two doors down the home of Ward.

“He is alleged to have broken into a stranger’s house and alleged to have beat them as they lay in their bed with either a tire iron or a gun,” said a judge during his bond hearing over the weekend. “It’s not clear, because they were asleep when the beatings began.”

And while that has yet to be settled, neighbors mourned the loss of the 70-year-old Ward. Most say that she is a warm person and someone who cared for everybody. The unnamed neighbor believes she did not deserve what happened to her.

“She always had a loving heart for everybody, a caring heart for everybody,” an unnamed man stated. “It breaks my heart that she’s gone.”