Greenwood man arrested for mom’s murder

A Greenwood man was arrested Tuesday on a charge of strangling his mother, causing her death in early November.

John Hatton Jr., 49, 397 Heritage Drive, Greenwood, was arrested by Greenwood police on a charge of murder. He is being held without bond in Johnson County jail.

Carla Hatton, 70, was strangled in the home she lived in with Hatton Jr. at Homecoming at University Park on Nov. 3. Greenwood police found her dead inside her home after receiving a phone call from family members. They told police that Hatton Jr. had called his brother and told him that he had killed their mother, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Police went to the home at 397 Heritage Drive. At the home, police observed obvious signs of a struggle, including shattered mirrors and dishes, as well as blood trails, according to the affidavit.

During their investigation, they found Hatton Jr., covered in blood with a self-inflicted neck injury from what appeared to be a cut, according to the affidavit. He was taken to Eskenazi Hospital for treatment.

Greenwood police interviewed Hatton Jr., who had a history of mental illness, in the hospital. He told them that he had killed his mother, according to the affidavit. He said he had a good relationship with his mother, but that voices told him to kill her, according to the affidavit.

Hatton Jr. said the voices stated that if he didn’t kill her, others would, and it would be worse for his mother, the affidavit said. He initially said that he believed she did not suffer, then later told police he believed she suffered for about 20 minutes, according to the affidavit.