Gwinnett Daily Post

Mark Wilson

LAWRENCEVILLE — Mark Wilson was arrested Wednesday evening, less than two miles from the Lawrenceville home where he allegedly murdered his mother.

Wilson, 42, was apprehended at about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, about 32 hours after his mother was found stabbed to death inside their home on Simonton Glen Way. A Gwinnett County police officer noticed the gold Toyota Camry missing from the home outside the QuikTrip gas station at the corner of Grayson Highway and Simonton Road.

Wilson was at the gas station as well, police spokesman Cpl. Jake Smith said, and apprehended without incident.

Previously issued warrants charged him with felony murder and aggravated assault.

Smith said late Wednesday that investigators were still trying to determine a possible motive.

The body of 72-year-old Phyllis Wilson was discovered by her husband at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Initial police reports described trauma to her body but stopped short of describing the incident as a homicide.

By Tuesday evening, though, authorities announced the death as a stabbing and issued warrants for Mark Wilson, who was reported missing along with a gold 2006 Toyota Camry. Wilson is believed to suffer from schizophrenia.

Wilson was discovered Wednesday evening by an officer assigned to Gwinnett police department’s “South Surge” detail. Smith said the detail started on Aug. 18 and is aimed at combatting “rising crime by flooding high crime areas within the south precinct with officers.”

Uniform officers not assigned to patrol functions in other precincts have been assigned to the detail, Smith said.