PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- A young Philadelphia man was charged Thursday with killing his 68-year-old neighbor, allegedly hitting her with a frying pan when she interrupted a burglary.
Police said Corey Conaway, 18, used Ellen Walton's Toyota for a week while her body lay undiscovered, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday. Capt. James Clark said Conaway showed "total disregard for what he had done."
Conoway and Walton, a retired social worker and grandmother, lived in the Germantown neighborhood in houses across from each other on a narrow alley. Investigators said they believe Conoway struck Walton when she came home unexpectedly -- because he knew she would recognize him -- and continued to hit her until the frying pan broke.
"She has known him his whole life," Clark said.
Investigators said they believe Walton was killed Jan. 8. The body was found Monday after her car turned up in nearby East Mount Airey abandoned with two flat tires.
A neighbor, Ronald Wilcher, told the Inquirer Conaway "became a hermit" when his father died. He said the teen was living with his grandmother.
Wilcher described Walton as "one of the most beautiful neighbors -- kind, always concerned."
