CHARLOTTE — William Yongue went before a judge Friday to try to be released from jail on bond, but he remains behind bars accused of killing his mother inside her east Charlotte home.
Family members have been in shock ever since learning 88-year-old Imogene Yongue, whom they called Jean, was found dead inside her home off Vernedale Road on Monday.
IMAGES: Police investigating 88-year-old's killing
Jean Yongue was an esteemed English professor who taught at Johnson C. Smith University and Garinger High School, according to family members.
STORY: CMPD arrest, charge man in killing of 88-year-old mother
Her grandson told family members he last saw her on Dec. 9 when he picked her up for a homecoming service at church.
She had one child, her son, William Yongue, whom the family refers to as Billy.
They said they haven't been able to talk to him since he was arrested and it was when he wouldn't let them talk to his mother that they knew something wasn't right.
"Jean always liked to have the last word and she was always saying 'I'm right' and most of the time she was," said Juanita Yongue-Eison, Jean's cousin.
Yongue-Eison said she called Yongue's home last week and was told by Billy Yongue she couldn't talk to his mother because she was sleeping that afternoon.
"I said 'Well, Jean doesn't usually sleep during the daytime,'" said Yongue-Eison.
Family members were turned away until Yongue's grandson called police to do a welfare check on his grandmother Monday.
That's when police found her dead in her east Charlotte home.
Family members were told she had a gunshot wound to the head. Police have not confirmed how she died but they said her son is the one who killed her.
"I just could not believe it. I was just in a state of shock," said Yongue-Eison.
Channel 9 obtained a police report Jean Yongue filed in July saying $1,500 and jewelry was stolen from her.
Neighbors and family said Jean thought her son, who's an attorney in Virginia, was taking her money. Nevertheless, he was the one she trusted with everything including her will.
With Billy Yongue in jail, the family doesn't know who will carry out Jean Yongue's last wishes.
They also don't know why she was killed or how long she was dead in her home -- questions that trouble them the most.
"There are pieces to this puzzle that we are trying to put together and trying to heal on and trying to understand reasoning because we were all so close, you know? I just don't have the answers," said Yongue-Eison.
Billy Yongue had his first court appearance on Friday. No one from the family attended.
His cousin said if Billy Yongue asked, the family would forgive him despite what he is accused of doing.
WSOC
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