San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a 57-year-old East County man has been sentenced to 76 years-to-life in prison for the 2022 shooting death of his elderly mother while she was standing by the kitchen table. 

Chase Folkes, who was found guilty of second-degree murder and of being a felon in possession of a firearm, shot 87-year-old Carolyn Folkes in the forehead on May 17, 2022 after his mother hid her debit card from him, preventing him from buying alcohol. A jury delivered the guilty verdict on July 9 after one day of deliberation.

“This is a heartbreaking example of elder abuse in its most extreme form,” DA Stephan said. “Taking the life of an innocent person is always horrific but when it is in the context of a son against an elderly mother, the complexity and harm committed is very deep.”  

Folkes used a homemade shotgun to commit the murder.

“I am proud of the dedication of our prosecution team which delivered a conviction and a measure of justice for the family of Ms. Folkes,” DA Stephan said. “We’re also proud of the work of law enforcement in conducting this investigation.”

Deputy District Attorney Briana Wilford prosecuted this case.