(AP) — A southern Indiana man accused of setting a house fire that killed an 85-year-old woman has been arrested in California.
Indiana State Police say 48-year-old Noel Montes Cazares was arrested Thursday in Riverside County. He remained jailed Friday in Indio, California, and it wasn’t immediately clear if he has an attorney.
Cazares was charged Thursday in Monroe County, Indiana, with murder, arson and other charges in Lerae Britain Moeller Bush’s Feb. 10 death in a house fire near Bloomington.
Authorities say Cazares has falsely claimed Bush was his mother. Police believe he fled Indiana to California to try to claim her properties and estate.
The Herald-Times reports Bush’s first cousin told investigators Bush had no children and owned artwork, collectibles and real estate valued well above $10 million.
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