GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ – A gruesome incident unraveled in New Jersey when a man allegedly bludgeoned his mother to death following a tussle about a tattoo. The suspect, 30-year-old James Doran, reportedly fled to Pennsylvania following the violent confrontation.
According to the authorities, James faces charges for the murder of his 65-year-old mother, Lillian Doran, in their Gloucester Township home. The allegation stems from an intense dispute centered around James’ attempt to remove a tattoo from his leg, following which he was seen carrying a baseball bat around the house.
A witness reported hearing concerning sounds, including a garage door opening in the early hours of the morning. When police arrived on the scene around 10 am, they found Lillian lifeless on her bedroom floor with evident signs of a violent encounter.
Following the tragic event, James and his mother’s car mysteriously disappeared from the residence. Later in the day, law enforcement in Pennsylvania found James driving the missing car at significantly over the speed limit, roughly 200 miles away from the crime scene.
Upon noticing the pursuing police cruiser, James purportedly abandoned his vehicle and fled into nearby woods. He was soon apprehended. At the time of arrest, he was reportedly covered in blood, displaying erratic behavior, and smelling of alcohol.
James allegedly declined a legal blood test and the police report noted visible alcoholic beverages in his mother’s car. A baseball bat was found in the trunk, but it’s unclear if it was the murder weapon.
James now faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, recklessly endangering another person, evading arrest and DUI, and resisting arrest. A judge has denied bail due to a high likelihood of noncompliance.
While he remains in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, awaiting extradition, James stands accused of a heinous crime that plunged a New Jersey family into tragedy.