Mother's IE Killing Blamed On Adult Son

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA — It had been a few days since Kathryn Morales was last heard from, a worried caller told authorities at 9:24 a.m. Saturday.

A welfare check was needed, so deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department were sent to Morales' home in the 9200 block of Milliken Avenue. Once there, they found the 65-year-old woman. Unfortunately, she was dead and the scene was "suspicious," according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The investigation turned to the victim's 38-year-old son, Brian Paul Morales.

"During the course of the investigation the victim’s son, Brian Morales, was determined to be responsible for her death," the sheriff's department reported.

The law enforcement agency did not disclose how investigators linked the slaying to the son and there was no word on how his mother was killed.

By 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Brian Morales was behind bars at Rancho Cucamonga's West Valley Detention Center. His arrest location was the scene of the crime, jail records show.

Morales was being held without bail, booked on suspicion of murder. He is due to be arraigned Tuesday.

Though investigators believe they have the killer, more information is sought in the case. Anyone with tips is asked to contact Detective Brandon Becker, Specialized Investigations Division, at 909-890-4904. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.