Nephew Sentenced After Stabbing Aunt 40 Times In Conshohocken

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — The Conshohocken man who fatally stabbed his aunt nearly 40 times last year was sentenced on Monday to 20 to 40 years in prison, according to court documents.

Matthew Joseph Wertz Jr., 29, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree murder in the slaying of 60-year-old Catherine Wanamaker.

Wertz, who had just been released from jail at the time of the killing and was taken in by his aunt, was originally charged with first-degree murder. The charge was lessened to third-degree as part of a plea deal, court documents show.

The incident in question occurred on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016.

Police arrived at Wanamaker's residence at 5:14 a.m. after receiving a report of a woman screaming and a dog barking on the 900 block of Hallowell Street.

Wanamaker was lying on the floor, already dead from multiple stab wounds, the DA said. Wertz was kneeling several feet away and was stabbing himself in the throat area, authorities said.

According to the Times Herald, Wertz was suffering from substance abuse issues and had flown into a rage over Wanamaker trying to keep him away from drugs. He had overdosed on heroin just days before the stabbing.

Wertz lost his right arm and leg as a result of the incident.

Police said that they disarmed Wertz and took him to Lankenau Hospital for treatment.

An autopsy revealed that Wanamaker had been stabbed nearly 40 times.

Image courtesy Montgomery County District Attorney's Office