Woman Indicted in Stabbing of Elderly Mother

July 2, 2021 – A southwest Memphis woman has been indicted in the stabbing death last year of her elderly disabled mother, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

Defendant Crystal Branch, 53, was an indicted on one count of first-degree murder. She is being held on $250,000 bond.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of Oct. 14, 2020, in a residence in the 4600 block of Cimarron Drive near Weaver Road and West Shelby Drive. A relative said she heard 73-year-old Callie Branch screaming for help and saw the defendant on top of the victim stabbing her repeatedly.

The victim, who was partially paralyzed from a stroke, had multiple stab wounds to her hand, torso, neck and ears. She was taken to Regional One Health where died of her injuries three days later.

Crystal Branch told police she stabbed her mother because she was going to call police and tell them the defendant would not take her medicine.  

The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Stephanie Johnson of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 2 which handles cases in General Sessions Division 9 and in Criminal Court Division 2.