California- from www.sbsun.com -Investigators say an Adelanto man may have decided to kill his mother after they appeared together on a “Judge Mathis” television show where he was ordered to repay his mom part of the money he ran up in bills for pornography.
Atraybion Charles Harmon, 20, has pleaded not guilty to stabbing his mother to death March 4 in the family’s home in the 11300 block of Essex Court.
In February, 55-year-old Barbette Harmon took the eldest of her three sons on the “Judge Mathis” show to recoup costs she claimed Atraybion Harmon racked up on Internet and television porn.
Judge Mathis ruled in her favor, ordering Harmon to pay $5,000. On the television show, the judgement is actually paid by the production company.
Nevertheless, detectives believe the appearance on the show was the motive for Barbette Harmon’s slaying.
“It did play a role,” said San Bernardino County sheriff’s homicide Detective Steve Pennington. “He didn’t pay anything out of his pocket but he still owed quite a bit of money to her.”
A YouTube video with a clip from the episode was posted three weeks ago but is no longer available for viewing. Warner Bros. Entertainment has put up a label saying it was taken down because of a copyright claim.
Officials with the show declined to comment.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the family’s home about 1:20 p.m. when Atraybion Harmon called 9-1-1 to report that he had come home and found his injured mother. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.
Atraybion Harmon lived in the home with his mother and two younger brothers, neither of whom were home at the time of the attack, authorities said.
Investigators have said they found evidence at the scene that led them to believe Atraybion Harmon was involved but they declined to say what the evidence was.
“We became suspicious of what we found at the scene,” Pennington said. “His story didn’t match up.”
Harmon is being held without bail at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. He is scheduled to appear Thursday in Victorville Superior Court.