Autopsy Fails to Reveal Cause of Woman’s Death
A preliminary autopsy on Monday failed to pinpoint what killed a 76-year-old woman whose son has been arrested on suspicion of homicide, authorities said.
San Clemente Police Lt. Steve Bernardi said the Orange County coroner’s office will conduct more toxicological tests to determine how Mary Burgess died.
Meanwhile, the woman’s 43-year-old son, Clifford Burgess, remained at the Orange County Jail.
Clifford Burgess, who lived with his mother in her home in the 200 block of Avenida Cabrillo, was arrested Sunday after paramedics responded to his call for help.
He apparently had slashed his wrists with a small knife in a possible suicide attempt, police said.
While there, authorities discovered the body of Mary Burgess in her bedroom.
She had been dead for a few hours at the time of her son’s 8:36 a.m. call for help Sunday.
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