Pittsburgh council taking step to resurrect mounted police

Stepson charged in death of woman imprisoned in apartment

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A 75-year-old Pennsylvania woman who police say was held captive and beaten in her apartment has now died, and her stepson is jailed on criminal homicide and other charges. Forty-seven-year-old Rodney Deavers, of Harrisburg, is accused of choking Martha Watson, beating her daily and falsely imprisoning her in the apartment. Police say she was found on the floor of her home covered with a blanked March 17, when she reported the alleged abuse. She died on Friday, which is why police added the newer charges. Online court records don't list an attorney for Deavers, who remains in the Dauphin County jail and faces a preliminary hearing April 19. Police say Deavers practically controlled the woman's life and wanted her to die.