A student at the University of California, Santa Cruz has been arrested on charges of stabbing his mother to death with scissors and killing three of his family's four dogs.

Joseph Badiali, 20, was charged Tuesday in Alameda County with murder in the slaying of his mother, Rosemary Badiali, 57. He also faces three felony counts of animal cruelty for killing the family's three Chihuahuas, police said.

Rosemary Badiali was found dead in her home in Hayward, California, Saturday evening.

According reports, a neighbor called police after Rosemary's 92-year-old mother learned of her daughter's death and asked for help.

"She told me, 'He kill her, he kill her,' and we started crying," neighbor Elizabeth Jimenez told KTVU.

While on the phone with police, a blood-splattered Joseph Badiali walked up to Jimenez, prompting her to ask him if he had killed his mother.

"Joseph said something to the effect of, 'Yes, I did it,'" Hayward police Officer Ryan Sprague wrote in a probable cause affidavit obtained by SFGate.

When authorities arrived on the scene, Joseph was waiting outside his mother's residence, reportedly still covered in blood. Asked about Rosemary's whereabouts, he allegedly said, "She's dead," according to the affidavit.


Rosemary Badiali was found dead at her home in Hayward, California, on Saturday.
Upon conducting a search of the residence, authorities found Rosemary Badiali's body in the back of her home. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The three Chihuahuas were found deceased in the backyard.

According to police, Rosemary had sustained multiple stab wounds to the head. The dogs died from severe head trauma.

Joseph Badiali is being held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail. Detectives are still trying to establish a motive for the killing.

According to NBC Bay Area, a Facebook page attributed to Joseph states that he is a graduate of Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, California.

Facebook friends of the murder suspect did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Huffington Post on Tuesday.

Rosemary was a dedicated mother who had taken good care of her son, Jimenez said.

"I don't understand why all of this took place, that house is full of love, full of family," she told KTVU.