Crime & Safety
Foul Play Discovered by Willow Grove Funeral Home
Rope, candy wrappers shoved down deceased woman's throat lead to arrest of her 70-year-old roommate
arrested a Roxborough woman on murder charges Wednesday after a Willow Grove funeral home discovered rope and candy wrappers stuffed down a deceased woman's throat, police said.
Geraldine Cherry, 50, was arrested on homicide and possession of criminal instrument charges June 20, in connection with the death of Kathleen Mcewan, police said.
Cherry and Mcewan, 70, both lived at 300 Parker Ave. in Roxborough, when Mcewan died of presumably natural causes June 10, police spokesperson Officer Jillian Russell said.
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Employees at John J. Bryers Funeral Home in Willow Grove were embalming Mcewan when they discovered rope and candy wrappers lodged in her throat.
Medical examiners determined the death was from suffocation and ruled it a homicide, Russell said.
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Police arrested Cherry June 20 at 12:30 p.m. 800 West Girard Ave. in Philadelphia.
Court records indicate Cherry was arraigned Wednesday and will have a preliminary hearing July 11.
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