(La Porte, IN) - A 60-year prison sentence was given Thursday to a Michigan City man for the beating death of his grandmother in La Porte.  Anthony Carter, Jr., 28, maintained his innocence prior to being sentenced for murder, robbery, aggravated battery and theft.  He was convicted by a LaPorte Circuit Court jury on August 6.

           

“Condolences to my family. I wish them to find peace at a time of need and, in time, God will show them I did not do this,” Carter said.

 

Beulah Biege, 75, was found inside her Warren St. home two days after the assault in February of 2019.  She died of a brain injury eight days later, authorities said.

  

According to prosecutors, Carter was living with Biege until she kicked him out of her residence.  He later showed up asking for the keys to her SUV.  She refused, then while being attacked, tried defending herself and fell to the floor where she was kicked on the left side of her head, according to prosecutors.

 

Prosecutors said Carter took her vehicle and other belongings like jewelry then went to a home in Michigan City occupied by people who testified seeing him bloody with rings on his possession.

 

La Porte County Deputy Prosecutor, Atley Price, said he later told someone “I caused the injuries that caused her to die.”  Price, citing the nature of the killing along with Carter’s seven prior convictions for past crimes, asked for no less than a 65-year sentence.  “It was a prolonged, agonizing death. She never regained consciousness,” he said.

 

Cherlinda Carter described her mother as “a woman of God” who did everything for her grandson ever since he was a child.  “You took a beautiful soul. The only woman who ever cared about you. Why did you do that,” she said.