Son Smothers 89-Year-Old Mother to Death Over Bedbug Infestation

A Minnesota man called 911 on Friday to report he had killed his 89-year-old mother because her home was hopelessly infested with bedbugs.

Michael Gallagher told police he suffocated his mother, Patricia Ann Gallagher, in a garbage bag after failing to choke her and beat her to death with a statue, NBC News reports.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Department said 62-year-old Gallagher told police he was "despondent" following his failed attempts to eradicate the pests from the apartment.

Read: Mom Beats Teen He Found in Bed With His Daughter, Smashes His Car

Gallagher told them he was afraid the landlord wouldn't renew the lease because of the infestation and that his mother "has a lot of things to move." 

According to a probable cause affidavit filed Monday, Gallagher told police he tried to eradicate the pests multiple times, but nothing worked. He said he was afraid the chemicals had seemed into the groundwater.

Prosecutors allege Gallagher told investigators he bludgeoned his mother five times with a sculpture of himself.

Read: Cops: Woman Intentionally Drove Into Las Vegas Crowd, Killing 1

He called police five hours later, NBC reports.

An autopsy found the 89-year-old died of "complex homicidal violence," including blunt force trauma and neck compression.

Gallagher has been charged with 2nd degree non-premeditated murder and is due in court Tuesday afternoon.

Watch Below: Paramedic Bride Rescues Guests in Car Crash While Still Wearing Wedding Dress