Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw and Willingboro Township Police Chief Ian S. Bucs announced that a 32-year-old woman has been charged with killing her mother yesterday in the victim’s home in the Hawthorne Park neighborhood.
Breanna Beacham, who was temporarily staying at the Hopewell Lane residence with her mother, was charged with Murder (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree).
She was taken into custody at the house early yesterday evening and lodged in the Burlington County Jail in Mount Holly pending a detention hearing in Superior Court. The case will now be prepared for presentation to a grand jury for possible indictment.
Police were called to the residence just before 4 p.m. for a report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, investigators discovered the body of Kim Beacham-Hanson, 57. The preliminary investigation determined that she had been bludgeoned to death. An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood concluded her death was a homicide that was caused by multiple blunt injuries.
The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
The investigation is being conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Willingboro Township Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detectives Arek J. Arargil and Kevin Smith, and WTPD Detective James Benedict.
Beacham will be prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Robert S. Van Gilst, supervisor of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit.
All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.