BALTIMORE, MD – A Baltimore man has been arrested and charged with the murder of his mother after reportedly admitting to hospital staff that he tried to stage her death as an accidental overdose, Baltimore Police announced.
Ajay Wiggins, 25, is accused of killing his 64-year-old mother, Joyce Gaskins, at their residence on Druid Hill Avenue. Police discovered Gaskins’ body on November 15 after a neighbor, concerned by Wiggins’ unusual behavior and the absence of Gaskins over several days, called authorities.
Charging documents reveal the neighbor found Wiggins in her car, asking for a ride. When she suggested he consult his mother, they gained entry to their shared locked apartment, where the neighbor discovered Gaskins unresponsive in a bedroom. The neighbor immediately called 911.
Responding officers found Wiggins lying on a mattress near his mother’s body. Despite repeated instructions, Wiggins was slow to leave the room and was eventually escorted to the living room. Attempts to discuss his mother’s death with Wiggins were largely unproductive until he cryptically wrote “666” on a piece of paper in response to an officer’s inquiry.
Wiggins was found carrying two prescription bottles filled with medications prescribed to Gaskins, namely Quetiapine Fumarate and Clonidine hydrochloride. These medications typically treat mental health disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD.
During questioning at the Baltimore Police Department, Wiggins demonstrated significant difficulty understanding detectives, prompting authorities to transfer him to the University of Maryland Midtown Hospital for psychiatric evaluation under an emergency petition.
The case took a defining turn when forensic experts identified undissolved pills in Gaskins’ mouth, alongside physical signs consistent with strangulation. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner concluded her death was due to “asphyxiation by strangulation.”
On December 13, hospital staff reported that Wiggins allegedly confessed to them that he killed his mother, attempting to simulate a medication overdose. This confession was relayed to homicide detectives.
Authorities charged Wiggins with first- and second-degree murder, as well as assault. He was taken into custody at the Central Booking & Intake Facility on December 16.
