Irvine woman, 64, charged with murdering her 92-year-old mother
An Irvine woman was charged with murder Thursday in connection with the death of her 92-year-old mother, whose body was found in her Huntington Beach home last month.
Cynthia Roberta Strange, 64, also faces a sentencing enhancement of murder for financial gain, according to Orange County Superior Court records.
Huntington Beach detectives launched an investigation after they found Ruth Strange dead at her home in the 6800 block of Vista Del Sol Drive on Sept. 4.
Officers had responded to the home shortly before 11 a.m. for a welfare check after Ruth Strange didn’t answer the door for someone who was scheduled to take her to a doctor’s appointment, police said.
When officers arrived at the elderly woman’s home, they found her in the backyard pool. She had been drowned and had superficial cuts to her head, according to prosecutors.
Detectives identified her daughter as a suspect during a month-long investigation. Cynthia Strange was arrested Tuesday and is being held in Orange County Jail without bail. Prosecutors recommend in charging documents that her bail be set at $2 million.
If convicted, Strange could face life in prison. She is expected to be arraigned later Thursday.
Twitter: @Hannahnfry
UPDATES:
2 p.m.: This article was updated with the cause of death.
This article was originally published at 1:15 p.m.
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