A man was charged with murdering a 94-year-old Ramona woman in court on Friday.
Gary Thomas, 63, is accused of killing Mary Jean Eskridge, who lived in a mobile home in Ramona.
Thomas was additionally charged with using a hammer as a deadly weapon, according to prosecutors.
During the arraignment on Friday, prosecutors said that Thomas and Eskridge previously established a friendly relationship. She allegedly let him spend the night on April 30.
He then allegedly went to her kitchen, got a hammer from her tool chest and killed her in her sleep.
Eskridge was found bludgeoned to death with a hammer, according to evidence revealed at the trial.
If convicted of charges, Thomas faces 26 years to life in prison.
Local
He is currently being held on a $3.5 million bail.
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