Chandler police: 81-year-old woman had throat cut by grandson

CHANDLER, Ariz. (KSAZ) - Chandler police say a man is being charged with premeditated first-degree murder for killing his 81-year-old grandmother early Sunday morning.

The grandson has been identified as Brandon Smith, who said he had been the only one taking care of his grandmother, Helen Smith, according to police.

Smith said his grandmother suffered from dementia.

He became frustrated while taking care of her and said he did not want her to "live like this anymore," police say. Smith then cut her throat with a kitchen knife.

Chandler police said they were called Sunday morning and were told that the caller's grandmother was not breathing, and that it looked like someone assaulted her and sliced her throat.

Officers later took the victim's grandson into custody at a nearby location.