Man tries to Snuff His Mother Out

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A man said to be upset with his elderly mother and her worsening health is accused of punching her and holding a pillow over the face of the 88-year-old woman Tuesday night at the family's north St. Louis County apartment.

John R. Noble, 61, who lives in the 100 block of Shepley Drive, near the Glasgow Village area, with his mother and sister, was charged Wednesday with first-degree elder abuse, a Class A felony, according to the charges.Helen L. Noble, who suffers from Alzheimer's and had returned home from hospice care Saturday, was taken to a hospital with body bruises and cuts to her face, county police spokeswoman Tracy Panus said. Police said John Noble admitted that he had lost his temper and attacked his mother but could not explain why, other than he had drunk some beer that night.

"I guess he was just frustrated about having to take care of her," Panus said. "He was just angry."As John Noble was preparing his mother for bed, police charged, he punched her three times in the back, then held a pillow over her face.Helen Noble's daughter, Patricia Sprick, stopped her brother from suffocating their mother, according to court documents, and called police.

Patricia Sprick and John Noble had been caring for their mother since she returned from hospice, authorities said.No one from the Noble home could be reached for comment. John Noble told police he loved his mother and had taken care of her for years, according to the arrest warrant.poconnell@post-dispatch.com 314-863-2821