East Pittsburgh woman pleads guilty to killing mother, abusing corpse

EAST PITTSBURGH, Pa. — An East Pittsburgh woman pleaded guilty to several charges Monday in connection with the killing of her mother and abusing the corpse.

Catherine Grier, 19, plead guilty to killing her mother, Brenda Johnson, 58, last June, and is charged with voluntary manslaughter, abuse of corpse, tampering with evidence and conspiracy.

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Police said Grier told investigators that her mother was drunk and insulting when she arrived home and left. When she returned, Grier said the two argued and Johnson punched her in the face. Grier told police she grabbed a knife and stabbed her mother.

Officials said Grier called her boyfriend, Keith Blackman, to help her get rid of her mother’s body. She said the two of them and another person put Johnson’s body into garbage bags, but didn’t have time to move her because it got light outside.

Johnson’s body was found after family called police to do a welfare check.

Cox Media Group