The discovery of a 71-year-old grandmother’s bloodied body on her living room floor began with a shoplifting.

Catherine Wilson, of Salem, was found stabbed to death in her home at Harvest Point Apartments on Wednesday morning.

Her grandson, Deon R. Wilson, 27, who lives with the victim, is charged in her death, the Salem County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

The grim discovery came after police in neighboring Pennsville Township responded to a Walmart around 8 a.m. that morning for a report of a shoplifter, later identified as Deon Wilson.

He attempted to steal a circular saw, cleaning agents and trash bags, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Wilson had gotten onto an NJ Transit bus in front of the store and Walmart security stopped the vehicle from leaving until police arrived. He allegedly struck the bus driver several times with a small baseball bat before police arrested him.

Because of the items Wilson had allegedly tried to steal, the officers asked Salem police to check on his grandmother.

When no one answered her door around 9 a.m., an apartment maintenance worker unlocked it for the police. They found the victim in the living room with multiple stab wounds to her body, head and neck.

Authorities say her grandson admitted to the crime. While at Pennsville’s police station, Wilson “spontaneously uttered” to a detective that he had killed his grandmother.

No motive for the killing has been revealed.

Wilson was charged with first-degree murder and weapons offenses.

He was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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