Documents: Man accused of killing adoptive mom thought she was possessed

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Documents: Man accused of killing adoptive mom thought she was possessed

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Roderick Geronimo (Vermont State Police provided photo)

RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) - Court documents say a 49-year-old Vermont man beat his 80-year-old mother to death at their East Poultney home because he thought she was possessed and he was "casting out the devil."

Roderick Geronimo pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of his adopted mother, Gertrudes Alwardt. He was ordered held without bail.

Police were called to their home at about 12:30 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of an unresponsive woman. Alwardt was taken to a Rutland hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The court documents say Geronimo repeatedly pushed a table into Alwardt's chest and then repeatedly hit her in the head with bottles.

Geronimo told police he poured water into Alwardt's mouth because he was "trying to bless her."

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Documents: Man accused of killing adoptive mom thought she was possessed

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