A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in Philadelphia stabbings that killed his mother and left his grandmother clinging to life , after what neighbors have described as years of mistreatment . Zachary Pritchett was arrested following the deadly incident early Friday at a home in the Bridesburg section of the city . A police spokeswoman said officers responded to the home shortly after 6am Friday and found 53-year-old Melizza Wiley dead of multiple stab wounds to the face , neck and upper torso . Scroll down for video . Crime scene : Zachary Pritchett , 19 , was arrested following the deadly incident early Friday at a home in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia . House of horrors : Officers who responded to the family 's residence found deplorable conditions inside , including no running water , no cooking gas and human feces smeared on the floor . Pritchett 's 73-year-old grandmother , Joan Wiley , was taken to Aria Torresdale Hospital in critical but stable condition . Police said Pritchett , who suffered a laceration to his hand , initially blamed the attack on three unknown men in hooded sweatshirts who he claimed had broken into their home , reported Fox29 , but his version of events did not add up . According to the family 's neighbors , the 19-year-old was very troubled and the violent domestic attack was years in the making . Area resident Kelly McGrath told 6ABC Melizza Wiley seldom allowed her son out of the house , and most nights he could be heard screaming from the back room . Another neighbor , Stephanie Carbonaro , said on the eve of the killing , she and her house guests overheard Zachary Pritchett screaming at someone in the house , 'Please , leave me alone . Do n't do this . Let go . ' Officers who responded to the family 's residence found deplorable conditions inside , including no running water , no cooking gas and human feces smeared on the floor . Throughout the day Saturday , investigators were seen coming in and out of the house wearing full protective gear and surgical masks . Melizza Wiley died after sustaining multiple stab wounds to the face , neck and upper torso , while her mother was critically wounded . Neighbors say the attack was years in the making . Melizza Wiley was found stabbed in the living room and was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.27am . Joan Wiley was discovered wounded in a hospital-type bed . Police said they have a history with the family and have responded to the home no fewer than a dozen times within the past year alone . Neighbors said they have contacted the Department of Human Services multiple times because they were concerned for Zachary Pritchett ’ s welfare . Kelly McGrath also reached out to the local school board to inquire about the 19-year-old ’ s education because Melizza Wiley was supposed to be home-schooling her son , but the neighbor was convinced she was not doing it .
Zachary Pritchett , 19 , charged with murder and aggravated assault . Teen 's mother , Melizza Wiley , 53 , was found dead in Philadelphia home from stab wounds to her face , neck and upper torso . Grandmother Joan Wiley , 73 , suffered multiple knife wounds and remains in critical condition . Neighbors say Pritchett was being kept locked up in a back room .