Judge Orders Murrieta Man Accused of Duct Taping Mother to Stand Trial

A judge on Monday ordered a Murrieta man to stand trial for the alleged attempted murder and elder abuse of his mother, court records show.

previously pleaded not guilty to those and other charges.

Cornelius' mother was present during a preliminary hearing held Monday at Southwest Justice Center near Murrieta, according to a report by The Press-Enterprise newspaper.

Cornelius is being held on $2.14 million bail.

The day of his arrest, police were called to Via Barletta in The Colony retirement community after Cornelius' girlfriend reported he was trying to kill his mother and himself.

Cornelius was allegedly going to take himself and his mother into the garage and into the car, then roll up the windows and kill them both, the caller told police.

Officers made contact with Cornelius by telephone and convinced him to step out of the residence, according to court documents.

An investigation at the scene revealed Cornelius' mother had allegedly been tied up with duct tape and that her oxygen cord had been severed. The mother, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was found bleeding and had bruises on her arms, face and near her left eye, according to Murrieta police.

She was admitted to the hospital, where it was determined she had suffered four broken ribs and a cracked sternum, court documents show.

Cornelius is due in court again Feb. 25.