Man Accused of Beating his Mom Faces Murder Count

A southern New Jersey man who allegedly attacked his mother in their home last month is now facing murder charges after she died from her injuries.

Burlington County prosecutors say 46-year-old Marcilo Gacutan of Mount Laurel was charged with simple assault after the Oct. 4 attack.

His 66-year-old mother, Shirley Gacutan, told police that he threw her to the ground and choked her after an argument. She refused medical treatment, but went to a hospital the next day for head pain and underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage.

Following surgery, she went into a coma. The charge against her son was then upgraded to aggravated assault.

Shirley Gacutan died Thursday, and an autopsy determined that the original injury she suffered during the assault caused her death.