Bartlesville man due trial in fatal beating of his grandmother
BY LAURA SUMMERS World Correspondent
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
3/20/13 at 3:34 AM
BARTLESVILLE - A Bartlesville man was bound over for trial Tuesday on a first-degree murder charge in the beating death of his grandmother.
Special Washington County District Judge John Gerkin set a May 1 arraignment for Brandon William Capps, 20, who is in the Washington County Jail on $1 million bail.
Capps is accused of killing Clara Jean Hammer, 81, who was found beaten to death with a baseball bat on Halloween day in her east Bartlesville home.
Police Investigator Jim Warring testified that Capps, whom he has known since childhood, told him he harmed his grandmother.
"His words were, 'I freaked out and hit my grandmother with a baseball bat,' " Warring testified. "I asked how many times he hit her, and he said, 'I don't know. It could have been one, it could have been 20.' "
Police were called to Hammer's home by neighbors who found her body in the living room.
Hammer's vehicle was missing. Capps was arrested a short time later driving it.
Capps also is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, petty larceny, knowingly concealing stolen property, driving without a license and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Police Detective Steve Birmingham testified that he photographed Hammer's body with a baseball bat next to it.
"The injuries to her head appeared to be very severe," he testified. "You could see what appeared to be large gaping wounds."
Birmingham testified that there mirrors were broken in two rooms and broken glass was all over the living room. Blood was found in the living room and bathroom, as well as on the door leading to the garage, he said.
Capps told police that his grandmother had given him some of her old jewelry to sell for pocket cash. Prosecutors contend that he stole the jewelry. Police were able to track down some of the items from a local jewelry store.
Original Print Headline: B'ville man due trial in the fatal beating of his grandmother
Associated Images:
Brandon Capps: He is accused of killing Clara Jean Hammer, 81, with a baseball bat
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