A grim sentence has been handed down in San Diego County for a case that rattles the community's notion of familial trust. Chase Folkes, aged 57, received 76 years to life in a state prison for the murder of his 87-year-old mother, Carolyn Folkes. The San Diego District Attorney's Office reported this sentence after a jury found Folkes guilty of second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The violent incident that landed Folkes in court took place last year on May 17 when Chase shot his mother in the forehead. The reason behind the violence, the hiding of a debit card by Carolyn, was purportedly to prevent her son from buying alcohol. "This is a heartbreaking example of elder abuse in its most extreme form," San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan was quoted in the press news release. The weapon used in the crime was a homemade shotgun, a detail that underscores the deliberate nature of the act.
Justice was pursued vigorously by the prosecution team, led by Deputy District Attorney Briana Wilford, whose efforts were recognized by DA Stephan in a statement. "I am proud of the dedication of our prosecution team, which delivered a conviction and a measure of justice for the family of Ms. Folkes," Stephan said in the District Attorney's press release. The outcome of this case not only delivers a heavy consequence to the perpetrator but also brings attention to the larger issue of elder abuse.
The jury returned the guilty verdict on July 9 after just one day of deliberation. Stephan's office lauded the work of law enforcement in conducting the investigation leading up to the trial.
