A late-night disturbance on Cliff Street turned deadly yesterday after police say a Decatur man stabbed his mother inside her home, then briefly ran from officers before being arrested. The woman was rushed to Medical City Decatur, where she later died, and investigators have opened a homicide investigation.
Decatur Police responded to a disturbance in the 1500 block of Cliff Street around 11 p.m., where they found 49-year-old Diana Ketchum with at least one apparent stab wound. Officers quickly identified her 32-year-old son, Michael Socia, as the suspect. According to the paper, Socia ran into a nearby field and was caught after an on-foot pursuit. He was treated for minor injuries at Medical City Decatur before being booked into the Wise County Jail, as first reported by the Wise County Messenger.
Investigation And Official Response
“Investigators are still sorting out what led up to the altercation and why it turned violent,” Decatur Police Chief Delvon Campbell said, the paper reported. Campbell, who has led the department since 2002, oversees the city agency that serves Decatur and the surrounding areas, per the Wise County Messenger. Decatur Fire Department and Wise County EMS also responded to the home, officials said.
Booking And What Comes Next
Socia was booked into the Wise County Jail and is facing a murder charge, the paper reported. The county detention facility is listed at 200 Rook Ramsey Drive in Decatur, according to public jail information and Wise County Jail records, and the Decatur Police non-emergency line is available for tips via the department's contact page. Prosecutors have not yet released formal charging documents and the investigation remains active.
Legal Note
Being charged with murder is an allegation, and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Formal charging papers and court dates will be posted through county court records and the district attorney when they are filed.
