Man Attacks Mother With Meat Cleaver: Police

A Richmond-area man is in jail without bond after he attacked his mother with a meat cleaver, according to police.

Joseph Yates, 25, was arrested Monday night and charged with aggravated malicious wounding, Henrico County police said.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported a judge on Tuesday ordered Yates to undergo a competency evaluation and set a preliminary hearing for Oct. 3.

Yates's mother reported her son hit her in the head repeatedly with the meat cleaver. She suffered multiple skull fractures and her thumb was almost severed as she tried to defend herself, police said.

After the assault, Yates returned to his room and got on the computer, police said.

Yates's mother is in stable condition at VCU Medical Center.

It's not immediately known whether Yates had an attorney.