PITTSBURGH Man kills self after mother's death

The 62-year-old son had lived with and taken care of his 85-year-old mother.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A man fatally shot himself in the head after his elderly mother was found dead in their home, and police were investigating whether he shot himself because he was distraught or because he had killed her.
Albert Yecko's body was found in a Crawford County creek near Meadville on Wednesday. A gun was nearby.
Allegheny County and Baldwin Borough police had been looking for Yecko, 62, since Tuesday morning when a family member and nurse found the body of Mary Yecko, 85, in the suburban Pittsburgh home she and her son shared. She was clutching rosary beads.
An autopsy was performed on Mary Yecko, but the cause and manner of death were still pending. Police characterized her death as suspicious, but investigators ruled out asphyxiation and strangulation as causes.
Albert Yecko had cared for his mother since she had a stroke five years ago. An oxygen tank next to her bed had been shut off. She needed oxygen when she slept, police said.
"We need to speak more with her doctors and re-interview the caregivers to determine just how dependent she was on the oxygen," said James Morton, assistant superintendent for the Allegheny County Police.
Neighbors said Yecko was devoted to his mother, and he had told Baldwin police that his mother was his life.
"From what I could tell, he did everything for her and only her," said Wilbert Silzle, a neighbor. "Maybe he just snapped or something."
In June, Albert Yecko reported a home invasion to Baldwin police, saying someone shut off his mother's oxygen and that he fought off the intruder. Police investigated but decided that the report was unfounded.
"He may have believed the home was invaded, but there was no evidence to support that," said Baldwin Chief Christopher Kelly.
After the episode, police expressed concern over Albert Yecko's ability to care for his mother to her family and the Department of Aging.
Family disagreement
Recently, police said, Albert and family members disagreed over her care. They wanted her in a nursing home, but Albert apparently wanted to continue caring for her.
Police last spoke with Albert Yecko about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, when he called his brother from his cell phone. Police got on the phone and tried to persuade him to talk, but he refused. He said he had his late father's .38-caliber revolver, and that he wasn't ready to talk about his mother's death.
A backhoe operator found Yecko's car Wednesday morning and notified police several hours later. State police found his body about 1:10 p.m.