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'We Tried Getting Him Help,' Man Charged With Killing 70-Year-Old Father In East Bridgewater Home

EAST BRIDGEWATER (CBS) - A man charged with beating his father to death in East Bridgewater was ordered held without bail Tuesday, hours after prosecutors said he confessed to the murder.

Police were called to 70-year-old Stephen Walcott's house on Cedar Street around 6:30 p.m. Monday after a neighbor requested a well-being check. Officers found Walcott dead on the kitchen floor.  The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office said he had been beaten up and hit in the head with a dumbbell.

The neighbor told police he saw Walcott's son, 42-year-old Stephen Walcott, Jr., at the home earlier and called them because he was worried about the younger Walcott's issues with mental illness.

Detectives found him at his mother's home in Brockton and arrested him. He's charged with one count of murder and violating a restraining order.

At his arraignment in Brockton District Court, the prosecutor said Walcott told police he went to his father's home to "beat him up and kill him." She also told the court Walcott suffers from schizophrenia.

Walcott's sister Lisa told reporters her brother has a bipolar disorder and killed her father, who just turned 70.

"He couldn't get the help that he needed," Lisa said. "The whole thing is just tragic, it's totally tragic because he's the greatest kid too he awesome, he's the best."

lisa and stephen walcott
Lisa Walcott (center) with her father Stephen (right). (Photo credit: Lisa Walcott)

Lisa said her father was her best friend.

"He was the best guy in the world. He was the best guy ever and he's never going to be replaced. He was just the sweetest guy you'd ever want to know. He'd do anything for anybody," she said. "I can't believe he's gone."

Stephen Walcott, Jr. pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. He's due back in court March 8.

Stephen Walcott, Jr.
Stephen Walcott, Jr. in court, February 9, 20201. (WBZ-TV)

"We tried getting him help," Lisa said. "We tried to get him help and we knew it was going to happen, we just couldn't do anything."

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