Suspect, 31, Arrested in Slaying

A 31-year-old Van Nuys man has been arrested in connection with the Wednesday morning slaying of a woman whose body was discovered by her 7-year-old son in her Van Nuys apartment, police said.

Richard Burch Jr. was arrested on suspicion of murdering Kathleen A. McCafferty, 24, Detective Mel Arnold of the Los Angeles Police Department said. Burch was taken into custody near his Gault Street residence, Arnold said.

Police said Burch knew the woman and visited her about midnight at her apartment in the 7300 block of Haskell Avenue. Police alleged that Burch tried to sexually assault her.

During the altercation, police said, the woman’s son, Hines, hit Burch, trying to get him away from his mother. But the boy returned to his room and went to sleep after thinking that Burch was going to leave, police said.

When the boy woke up around 5 a.m., he found his mother lying in the hallway, police said. The boy then told a neighbor, who notified police.

The woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, had been beaten and stabbed, Arnold said.

A physical description provided by the boy and physical evidence at the scene helped lead police to the suspect, Arnold said.

Hines and Kathleen McCafferty’s other son, 4 months old, have been placed in a foster home, Arnold said.