Nicole Cadwalader broke down in tears as she apologized to her mother, adding through sobs that she’ll miss her grandmother, Sharon Burke, forever, and she wishes she could take back what she did.
Cadwalader pleaded guilty but mentally ill to third-degree murder. She is sentenced to 12 ½ to 25 years in state prison.
In June 2018, Cadwalader slashed her grandmother’s throat and beat her with a frying pan and a baseball bat in their home on Chestnut Street in Ambler. According to charging documents, she told police she killed her grandmother because she believed Burke was “a wretched, evil woman.”
Cadwalader’s lawyer, Carrie Allman, pointed to testimony from a psychiatric expert who said Cadwalader has been dealing with mental health issues — including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — since at least 2005.
“It also ensures she’ll have ongoing treatment for that during her time in prison and then, if paroled, during her time on parole,” he added.
After she killed her grandmother, Cadwalader went to a friend’s house and then to Ambler police, where she told them what she did.
She was treated for mental health issues and put on medication, including antipsychotic and anti-anxiety drugs. The psychiatric expert testified that the drugs have stabilized her and are managing her symptoms.
Cadwalader will remain on that medication while in prison and during any time on parole.