70-year-old woman who used knife stored in cane to kill man turns herself in, says police

A 70-year-old Philadelphia woman charged with the murder of a man her son previously punched turned herself in to police this week, according to officials.

Renee DiPietro is facing charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime for stabbing 31-year-old Michael Sides to death earlier this year in Montgomery County, FOX29 said.

Lower Merion Township Police found Sides unresponsive and bleeding on the ground at the intersection of Cricket Avenue and Cricket Terrace June 10, police said

Earlier that night, DiPietro’s son had a fight with one of Sides friends, at which point Sides said he was going to find him, FOX29 said court documents said.

DiPietro spoke on the phone with her son, and after learning he was in the area of Ardmore, DiPietro retrieved a baseball bat and her walking cane and drove off toward him, according to 6ABC.

Surveillance video later showed Sides caught up with DiPietro’s son right before he got in DiPietro’s car, and a second fight broke out, according to FOX29.

DiPietro then left her car and stabbed Sides with a 16-inch blade that was sheathed inside of a cane, and stabbed him again after he fell to the ground before driving away, FOX29 said.

Sides was eventually taken to Lankenau Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, 6ABC said.

District Judge Michael Quinn arraigned DiPietro on charges of third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime. DiPietro is scheduled to appear before Quinn for a preliminary hearing Aug. 22.

DiPietro’s bail is set to $50,000.