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Slain US postal worker's son claims his 71-year-old mom was 'almost home' when she was stabbed to death

The 71-year-old US postal worker was stabbed to death when she was returning home at 12.30 am after her shift on January 11

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA: A 71-year-old U.S. postal worker was stabbed to death when she was on her way back home after her shift on January 11. Her assailant was reportedly by a repeat offender by the name of Wilbert Winchester. Dilma Franks-Spruill, an immigrant from Brazil, who had worked at the US Postal Service for 18 years, was stabbed multiple times, her son, Miles, was quoted by local media as saying. 

The suspect, Wilbert Winchester, 28, was arrested for the homicide of Dilma Franks-Spruill and the attempted homicide of another individual, the Oakland police department informed. Winchester had served three years for a prior conviction for elder abuse, Fox News reported. 

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After sorting mail at a post office and distribution center in West Oakland, Spruill was reportedly heading home at around at 12.30 am, as she usually did every day, when she was attacked with a sharp weapon. "Three houses away. She was almost home, but she's not coming home," Spruill's son, Miles told KTVU FOX2. The 71-year-old postal worker died at the scene.

"OPD Officers arrested Wilbert Winchester for the homicide of Dilma Franks-Spruill and an attempted homicide of another individual," Oakland Police Department informed in a tweet, adding that Winchester has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Mourning the death of his mother, who he described as his "best friend," Miles told KTVU FOX2, "You took my best friend. You took the last living birth parent that I have." Holding back tears, Miles wished peace for his mother's killer. "I wish you peace and I wish you farewell," he said. "I hope there's justice. I hope you find whatever you need to take for you to heal. I'm not right. I won't ever be right. It's going to take me some time," Miles added.

Mourning the loss of their worker, who served the department for almost two decades, the US Postal Service said in a statement, "We lost a member of our postal family. Dilma beamed with energy, joy and brought light to all who had the pleasure to know and work alongside her. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and her co-workers at this time," Fox News reported.