A man charged with stabbing his mother to death in the Billings Heights Friday night pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning.
Robert Mascarena, 38, is charged with killing Patricia Mascarena, 55, in the presence of his 12-year-old niece, who he threatened to kill next, according to charging documents. The niece fled the residence and called law enforcement.
When BPD officers and YCSO deputies arrived at the scene, they were advised that Mascarena was armed with a Glock handgun and a knife.
Officers used a ram to force entry to the home and found the victim on the floor of the living room. Mascarena had barricaded himself in a bedroom and exited through a window. Officers observed that he was covered in blood.
The victim had sustained deep puncture and laceration wounds to her neck. Life-saving efforts were made by officers and AMR. These efforts were unsuccessful, and she was declared dead at the scene. The cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries, according to a press release from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office.
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Robert Mascarena was shot by a sheriff’s deputy but not injured badly during the confrontation in the house. The deputy, Kevin Stahlberg has been with the sheriff’s office just over two years, said Sheriff Mike Linder Tuesday. Stahlberg has been placed on routine temporary administrative leave while the incident is reviewed, said Linder.