Police: Conshohocken man arrested for alleged murder of his aunt

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA (WTXF) - Montgomery County officials have identified 28-year-old Matthew Wertz for the alleged murder of his aunt.

Wertz has been charged with first-degree murder and related charges in the stabbing death of his 60-year-old aunt, Catherine Wanamaker.

It happened Friday morning around 5:15 A.M.

Authorities tell FOX 29 a woman was found dead at a home on the 900 block of Hallowell Street. She was identified by police as 60-year-old Catherine Wanamaker.

According to police, officers responded to the residence for a report of a disturbance. When they arrived, they found the home to be secure, forced entry into the home, and found Wanamaker on the floor with multiple stab wounds.

She was pronounced dead the scene.

They also found Wertz kneeling several feet away and stabbing himself in his throat. After police disarmed him, Wertz was transported to Lankenau Hospital for treatment.

An autopsy released Saturday confirmed the existence of nearly 40 stab wounds on the victim.

"This is a terrible tragedy. A woman opened her door to a relative who had just been released from jail, and in return she was brutally murdered," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele.

Wertz is in custody and has been denied bail. The investigation is ongoing.