An arrest was made in the execution-stye murders of two women in Northeast Philly. NBC10’s Rosemary Connors has the details.
A man was arrested and charged in the execution-style murders of two women inside a Northeast Philadelphia home. James Mears, 25, is charged with two counts of murder, robbery and other related offenses.
Mears allegedly killed Dollie Evans, 67, and Ruby Nell Thomas, 57, inside Thomas' home on the 4700 block of Vista Street in the Holmesburg section of the city just before 6 p.m. Saturday.
Thomas' body was found in the living room with a cord around her neck and a gunshot to the head. Evans' body was on the floor in an upstairs bedroom. She was also shot in the head.
Evans had an open-door policy, according to homicide investigators, and was known to let people from the neighborhood stay with her. Police say Mears knew both Evans and Thomas and was allowed inside the home because he needed a place to stay.
According to investigators, Mears' motive was robbery and he stole $500 from Evans before shooting her in the head. Mears also allegedly tried to strangle Thomas and then shot her in the head.
"It's very disturbing," said Philadelphia Police Captain James Clark. "It's a very coldblooded act, a heartless act. You have an individual that these two females let into their house out of the goodness of their hearts. He turns on them, goes to rob them and then ultimately takes both of their lives away from them. We're just very happy we were able to arrest him."
Mears was brought in for questioning Monday and officially charged Tuesday. According to investigators, Mears had a criminal record prior to Tuesday's charges and was just released from prison a few months ago. Mears is currently awaiting his arraignment.
