UC Santa Cruz student charged with killing mother, three dogs

A UC Santa Cruz student has been charged with murder and animal cruelty for allegedly stabbing his mother to death with scissors and killing three of the family’s dogs.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports officers arriving on the scene in Hayward Saturday found 20-year-old Joseph Badiali in the middle of the street with blood on his hands, legs and shorts.

His mother, 57-year-old Rosemary Badiali, was found inside her house with multiple stab wounds to her head.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, as were three Chihuahuas found in the backyard with head injuries.

On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Joseph Badiali with murder, a weapons enhancement for allegedly using scissors and three felony counts of animal cruelty.