Man Kills His Daughter's Grandmother

HADDONFIELD, N.J. -- A south New Jersey community is in shock over the killing of a woman who was well-known in her community for helping disabled children.

Diana Barker, 69, was found beaten to death with blunt trauma to the head and neck, and a suspect is under arrest.

Camden County prosecutors have charged William Erskowitz, 36, with Barker's murder. He is her granddaughter's father.

Barker's husband found her bludgeoned body behind the home they've shared for decades in Haddonfield.

Erskowitz had planned to take his 12-year-old daughter to a Halloween event that day at a church, according to police. Early Friday morning, an argument erupted, and Erskowitz allegedly assaulted Barker.

"She was a nice neighbor and a great gardener. You walk around there, you can see how she would garden. She had real green thumb," said Chris Mazro, a neighbor.

Barker's neighbors said that she adopted children who others did not want. Five of them were there with Barker's husband when she was killed, but no one heard a thing.

"They were quiet people. They kept to themselves, and over the years they took care of many handicapped and challenged children. I really think that it's wonderful what they did," another neighbor said.

While neighbors remember Barker's kindness, detectives continue their search for the killer's weapon.

The suspect will be back in court on Monday.

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Author: NBC10