Henrico man pleads guilty to stabbing death of mother

Gilbert L. Thomas pleaded guilty today to second-degree murder in Henrico County Circuit Court for stabbing his mother to death in the apartment they shared.

Henrico prosecutors laid out evidence today in the killing of Eloise Thomas, 47, in February 2007. Questions about Gilbert Thomas' sanity helped prompt a plea agreement that will send him to prison for 14 years and nine months.

Thomas, who received months of treatment at Central State Hospital after his arrest, has a severe mental disorder but psychiatric evaluations differed over whether he knew right from wrong at the time of the killing.

Thomas, then 22, and his mother lived in an apartment in the 5600 block of Crenshaw Road near Azalea Avenue. Her body was found Feb. 13, and he was arrested Feb. 20 wandering in the Pine Camp area in the city.

Thomas shook his head "no" when asked by Circuit Judge Daniel Balfour if had had any comment before sentencing.