85-Year-Old Grandmother Found Dead And In Rigor In Home, Grandson Accused Of Murder

An Indiana man was taken into custody in connection to the death of his 85-year-old grandmother, police said.

John Michael Stevens, 40, phoned 911 to report he found Betty Stevens dead on June 3.

Responding officers said the elderly woman had bruising as well as dried blood near her left eye as well as trauma to rest of her face, WEHT reported.

Officers questioning the dead woman's grandson claimed he had trouble focusing and he was arrested on unrelated charges.

Detectives searching a backpack the suspect had on him at the time allegedly turned up credit cards and mail belonging to his grandmother, police said.

Betty Stevens’ blood allegedly was found on the shirt her grandson was wearing when he was taken into custody the day of the incident, according to authorities.

An autopsy determined the victim died from strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head, and John Stevens was charged with her murder on June 8.

Her body was in rigor when she was found and it did not appear to have been moved, according to WEHT.