By admin 
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Phoenix police are recommending a murder charge against a man they said killed his 75-year-old grandfather with scissors, but the suspect is claiming self-defense.
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Mateo Celaya, 26, was arrested early Friday morning, days after the death of Fred Celaya.
According to court documents, a woman called 911 after she went to check on Fred Celaya, her uncle, and found his bloodied body at his apartment in the area of 10th Street and Devonshire Avenue, just north of Indian School Road, shortly after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Police said they found a knife and multiple pairs of scissors with blood on them.
About 20 minutes later, Mateo Celaya called 911 and confessed to killing his grandfather by stabbing him with scissors, court paperwork said.
Mateo Celaya reportedly told the 911 operator that he had been using drugs for several days and claimed the killing was in self-defense because he thought his grandfather was going to kill him.
The next day, Mateo Celaya talked to detectives. According to court documents, he said he had been awake for one week while using methamphetamine and said he was doing the dangerous drug with his grandfather.
Mateo Celaya said he smoked meth with Fred Celaya and then went to shower on Monday. When he got out, Mateo Celaya said his grandfather came after him with a knife and torch lighter, police said.
Mateo Celaya said the pair had argued about him “making a mess” and “taking advantage” of his grandfather, investigators said.
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Mateo Celaya claimed he wrestled away two knives, and fearing he had been drugged and would pass out, grabbed scissors, put his grandfather in a chokehold and stabbed him between nine and 20 times.
Police said Mateo Celaya then left the body and slept for hours. He then reportedly packed a bag, took his grandfather’s cellphone, and took off.
Mateo Celaya told police he called 911 and confessed after seeing his mother’s reaction to learning of Fred Celaya’s death.
Police said Mateo Celaya admitted his grandfather couldn’t move very well because he had to use a cane or wheelchair, and Mateo Celaya never said his grandfather tried to cut or stab him. Police said they did not find any injuries on Mateo Celaya that were consistent with fighting off an armed attacker.
Mateo Celaya was arrested and booked into the Maricopa County jail on Thursday but, due to an administrative error, was rebooked on Friday around 3:30 a.m.
A judge set his bond at $750,000.
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