A Des Moines man is under arrest, charged with killing his aunt. Twenty-eight-year-old John Bingham called police Tuesday evening and said his mother had “fallen and needed help.” Des Moines police sergeant Kenneth Brown says cops and fire fighters found 63-year-old Barbara Gaston dead in a bedroom. Her vehicle was missing, too. While cops were at the murder scene, Bingham drove by in Gaston’s car. A chase ensued and Bingham was arrested. Brown says Bingham admitted kicking in his aunt’s door and arguing with her, then choking her to death. He also robbed her and told police he dumped the stolen property at a park — where it was later found. This morning the Polk County Medical Examiner ruled Gaston died of strangulation. Bingham is currently being held at the Polk County Jail on murder and robbery charges as well as some traffic charges connected to the police chase. Police say this isn’t Bingham’s first brush with the law. He has faced burglary, theft and domestic abuse charges in the past — some were crimes he committed against his aunt. He is schedualed to appear in court at 8:30 tomorrow morning.
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