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Son of Woman Found Fatally Stabbed Charged with Her Murder

By Eddie Small | February 1, 2017 8:29am | Updated on February 1, 2017 9:53am
 Joseph Garcia appeared in court on Tuesday, where it was announced that he will be charged with the murder of his mother.
Joseph Garcia appeared in court on Tuesday, where it was announced that he will be charged with the murder of his mother.
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DNAinfo/Eddie Small

THE BRONX — The son of a woman found stabbed to death near woodland in Washington Heights was charged with her murder, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.

Joan Viau, 52, from The Bronx, was reported missing on Jan. 23. Her body was found Saturday at Chittenden Avenue and W. 187th Street with a fatal stab wound to her neck, police said.

Her son Joseph Garcia had been charged with possession of stolen property after being caught using her car and credit card, and he has now been charged with her murder as well, according to the Bronx DA's Office.

Garcia made a brief court appearance on Tuesday afternoon in khaki pants and a brown jacket, where he claimed that improper court proceedings would lead to his release.

"I have to acknowledge that this is an improper procedure," he said, "so I'm going to be walking." It is unclear what issue he took with the process.

When leaving the courtroom, he said he needed "an actual attorney and an actual life" and that he "wouldn't know" about what happened to his mother.

He was arraigned on murder and manslaughter charges later on Tuesday and ordered held without bail, and he is due back in court on Feb. 3, according to the Bronx DA's Office.