Man Stabs Mom, Uncle To Death; Mom's Colleague Witnesses 'Horrific Crime' On Zoom Call

A 32-year-old California man, Robert Anderson Cotton, has been charged with killing his mother and uncle last week, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said Monday. The crime was witnessed by his mom's colleague while on a Zoom call with her.

It is alleged that Cotton stabbed his mother Carol Brown, 67, and his uncle Kenneth Preston, 69, at their house in Southern California on March 22.

"This is a horrific case in which the mother's work colleagues witnessed part of the attack while on a Zoom call and called the authorities," District Attorney George Gascón said in a press release.

According to the D.A.'s Office, Cotton is facing two counts of murder with an allegation of using a knife as a deadly and dangerous weapon.

Brown was a Pasadena City College employee. She also served as co-coordinator of its Black STEM Program initiative.

"So many memories about Carol and the amazing work that she did with so many of our students and the incredible spirit she had that was so positive, uplifting and helpful," said Dr. Cynthia Olivo, vice president of student services, as reported by CBS Los Angeles.

A neighbor described the incident as "very disturbing. We had to come by this way just to look. It’s unbelievable.”

According to the police, Preston was stabbed first and was found in the driveway of the house. Brown was found dead inside the house.

According to family friends, Cotton is Brown’s oldest son. He was jailed Tuesday on $2 million bail.

“I don’t know what to say about him, because I don’t know him, but I know her and she’s such a good person,” Denise Allin-Smith, a family friend, said.

“She’s a really good person, and she’s always helping other people," she added.

Dionne Shelter, a former student and current employee at PCC, felt "so heartbroken" after learning about Brown's death.

"I feel so sad. When you don’t care where someone comes from, what they look like, what they might smell like or whatever, and you still treat them like they are the same as you, a doctor with a PhD or whatever, it’s amazing," she said.

Meanwhile, the police are yet to find out a motive behind the murder.

Cotton is currently being kept at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. He is expected to make his initial appearance at the Pasadena courthouse Thursday.