Sikeston man faces charges of strangling grandmother

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man was arrested during the weekend on suspicion of strangling his grandmother.

Matthew Carmack, 22, of Sikeston was arrested Friday for the assault on his grandmother and charged with domestic assault in the second degree through the Scott County Court.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers were called to a home in reference to elder abuse, according to Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for the department.

"It was reported that the offender had just left the residence in a vehicle," McMillen said. "Officers responded to the area and located the suspect in a car not far from the home and detained him."

Police then made contact with the victim who reported that her 22-year-old grandson pushed and strangled her after becoming angry over $40.

"During the incident, a neighbor ran to the victim's aid when the victim sounded the car alarm to summon help," McMillen said. "The neighbor was met at the front door by the alleged offender who was said to have verbally abused her."

McMillen said it was then that the neighbor contacted the police after realizing there was a problem in the home.

"The neighbor said this was an ongoing problem, and they worked out this 'code' with the car alarm to be sounded in case of an emergency like this," McMillen said.

The 66-year-old victim said her neck was hurting, and officers witnessed red marks around her neck. There was obvious bruising on the victim from an apparent struggle, McMillen said.

Carmack was given a $5,000 cash-only bond. At press time, he remained in custody awaiting his arraignment.

Pertinent address:

Sikeston, Mo.