Hiawatha Man Faces Murder Charge in Death of His Mother

A 32-year-old metro man charged with arson, burglary, and assault last week is now charged with killing his mother in their home with a piece of fruit.

Joseph D. Hubbard was questioned by police after being found walking naked in the 700 block of North Center Point Road in Hiawatha the morning of Friday, December 2. The following Monday he was charged with 2nd Degree Arson, 3rd Degree Burglary, and Assault Causing Bodily Injury for events at New Beginnings Church the morning of December 2.

After talking with Hubbard on the morning of December 2, Hiawatha officers did a welfare check at 213 Sunset Lane in Hiawatha where they found 56-year-old Deborah Roman was deceased. Roman was Hubbard's mother. According to a report via CBS 2, from court documents, Hubbard told police he had shoved a rotten apple down Roman's throat.

KCRG says the State Medical Examiners Office was able to determine during an autopsy that Roman had large pieces of apple forced into her throat. They ruled her cause of death was asphyxiation.

Hubbard has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree.