‘Sad and horrific’: Texas man allegedly murdered his elderly mother, stuffed dismembered body in crate

Police officers conducting a wellbeing check at a Houston home discovered a woman’s dismembered body inside a crate in the garage.

On Oct. 21, family members called authorities to report 72-year-old Lucille Barnes missing after they hadn’t seen or heard from her in two days, officials said.

Relatives claimed to deputies that when they went to the elderly woman’s home, her son, Robert Barnes, 36, allegedly pointed a gun at them, KPRC-TV reported.

Neighbors said he had been living at his mother’s home for several years, according to KTRK-TV.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies checking on the missing woman made contact at the house with Robert Barnes, who officials said allegedly became hostile, refused to let them into the house and gave several conflicting stories.

Deputies secured a search warrant and once inside the residence discovered “a large amount of blood” but they didn’t find the victim's woman’s remains until the homicide division arrived and checked the garage, officials said.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez called the case “sad and horrific”

Barnes is cooperating with authorities, officials said. He currently faces charges of murder and tampering with a corpse.