Connecticut man accused of drowning his mother to silence 'the demons' is found dead in his cell

A Connecticut man who told police he killed his mother in order to silence "demons" that were hounding him was found dead in his cell on Monday.

34-year-old Eric Meagan was arrested in June after calling police and telling them that he had killed 56-year-old Victoria Palmer, his mother. Her lifeless body was found in the Still River near Harrybroke Park in New Milford.

Meagan was found dead in his cell at about 3:30 in the morning at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown, according to officials from the Connecticut Department of Correction.

The man was alone in his cell and was found with a ligature around his neck.

Paramedics attempted to revive him but were unsuccessful, a CDC official said.

A criminal complaint had previously documented what Meagan told police about the death of his mother. He allegedly said that he was on a walk with her when he got her into a headlock and submerged her head in the Still River for about ten minutes until she died.

"I had to do it to make the demons stop," he allegedly told police later.

Meagan had a history of mental illness and allegedly told police that he had been "tormented" by demons before he killed his mother.

Police said he told them he had strangled and killed the family cat and that he had signed up for an NRA pistol course because he felt like he wanted to kill his entire family.

He also allegedly told police that he had been "frustrated with his mother lately because she was constantly pestering him."

Meagan's death was ruled a suicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Man charged with killing his mother in New Milfordwww.youtube.com

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