A story for every victim

Rosie Marie Manuel, 73

Rosie Marie Manuel, a 73-year-old black female, was strangled to death Dec. 19, 2013, in the 44300 block of Beech Avenue in Lancaster, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records. 

Manuel was discovered by a family member in the kitchen of her home, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. 

She was found dead with her upper torso on an open oven door and the oven tipped over slightly on top of her, according to prosecutors.

Her son, Shelton Eugene Bradley, a 49-year-old black male, was arrested the next day.

According to court testimony, Bradley told detectives that God had told him his mother was a witch and commanded him to kill and burn the witches. Bradley then strangled his mother, according to the release, and tried to place her in the oven. 

Bradley pleaded no contest to one count of second-degree murder on June 17 and agreed to waive any credit for time in jail since his arrest on Dec. 20, 2013. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on July 2, according to the release.

-- Jeanette Marantos

Share a memory or thought about Rosie Marie Manuel

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

  Required
  Required