Suspect in custody after mom found dead at Gaithersburg home, police say

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - A tragic incident unfolded in Montgomery County on Monday morning when police received a call from a person claiming they had killed their mother. 

The call was made to the Montgomery County Department of Police – Emergency Communications Center at approximately 9:53 a.m.

Officers responded to the scene on Olive Tree Way in a Gaithersburg single-family home neighborhood. Upon arrival, they discovered the body of a woman outside the residence. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to audio from OpenMHz with dispatchers, the suspect called and said she murdered her mother "yesterday at twilight."

"She says she used her phone to bash her head in and advises that the mother’s body is with her but then says it’s in the yard with the trees," the OpenMHz audio states.

By 6 p.m. Monday, at least three police cars were still on the scene. Vishal Gupta’s family has lived in the neighborhood for nearly 30 years and lives less than half a mile away.

"I turned in the neighborhood and I saw a huge tape line and tons of cop cars. Road was completely blocked, and I had to turn around and go the other way," Gupta said. "That’s super disturbing especially, like this is a pretty quiet neighborhood. There’s not really any crime here, so super disturbing."

The suspect, who was still present when officers arrived, was taken into custody without any issues. 

The victim’s body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.

Authorities stated that the names of both the victim and the suspect will be released after proper notification of next of kin. 

The investigation is ongoing as police work to uncover the details surrounding this heartbreaking incident.