Arrest made in murder of former Norwich resident
BRADENTON, FL – According to reports, Helen Van Orden, 79, a former Norwich resident, was killed in her home on the morning of Friday, May 2 at her current residence in Burgundy Condominiums on 46 Ave Terrace West, Bradenton, Fl.
Van Orden had lived in Norwich and Towanda, Pa. before relocating to Manatee County with her now-late husband, William. She worked as a part-time housekeeper during the day and her son, Charles Van Orden, would check on her in the evenings.
According to Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow, she was very well liked in the community and very active.
Bristow explained that Charles Van Orden had spoken to her on the phone on Thursday, but was not able to reach her on Friday. Concerned, he went to her home that evening.
“He (Van Orden) went to check on her and found her deceased,” said Bristow.
He immediately called 911 and Helen Van Orden was determined to be deceased when paramedics arrived on the scene. Detectives from Manatee County Sheriff’s Office have reason to believe Helen Van Orden was killed when a man entered her home to rob her.
“We think that she was out for a short time and came back in when he was in the apartment,” said Bristow. An autopsy release states that Helen Van Orden died of “homicidal violence,” but no other details about her death have been released.
Richard Wayne Matthews, 32, homeless, was arrested for allegedly killing Helen Van Orden and then stealing a purse, credit cards and a 2000 silver Dodge Strata, states the Bradenton Herald.
Said Bristow, “He used her credit card, he had dumped her car at an apartment complex nearby. We found the car and then we located him Saturday afternoon.”
According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office website, Matthews was booked on May 3, 2014, for non-premeditated murder, motor vehicle theft and burglary with assault and battery. No bail has been set for the murder charge and Matthews remained in custody at the time of press.
The Bradenton Herald states that Matthews had numerous felony convictions, which breaks down to approximately 30 different cases dating from 2001-14. He was originally charged with eight counts of burglary of a conveyance and dealing in stolen property in 2001, states the Herald Tribune.
“I know he does have a history of several arrests,” said Bristow.
Helen Van Orden's daughter, Mary Ann Layhew, and son, Charles Van Orden, both have reason to believe that Matthews knew of their mother before the incident.
According to the Bradenton Herald, Layhew explained that Matthews was her son's friend and knew where Helen Van Orden lived.
After the alleged murder, Matthews admitted to killing Helen Van Orden to three people, two of whom have given sworn statements to officials.
“To have her life end like this is horrible. Really the only good thing that came with this was that we closed the case in about 24 hours,” said Bristow. “That was very good work by our detectives.”
The case is still open and no other details have been released. Her funeral was held on Saturday at Manasota Memorial in Oneco.
Van Orden had lived in Norwich and Towanda, Pa. before relocating to Manatee County with her now-late husband, William. She worked as a part-time housekeeper during the day and her son, Charles Van Orden, would check on her in the evenings.
According to Manatee County Sheriff's Office spokesman Dave Bristow, she was very well liked in the community and very active.
Bristow explained that Charles Van Orden had spoken to her on the phone on Thursday, but was not able to reach her on Friday. Concerned, he went to her home that evening.
“He (Van Orden) went to check on her and found her deceased,” said Bristow.
He immediately called 911 and Helen Van Orden was determined to be deceased when paramedics arrived on the scene. Detectives from Manatee County Sheriff’s Office have reason to believe Helen Van Orden was killed when a man entered her home to rob her.
“We think that she was out for a short time and came back in when he was in the apartment,” said Bristow. An autopsy release states that Helen Van Orden died of “homicidal violence,” but no other details about her death have been released.
Richard Wayne Matthews, 32, homeless, was arrested for allegedly killing Helen Van Orden and then stealing a purse, credit cards and a 2000 silver Dodge Strata, states the Bradenton Herald.
Said Bristow, “He used her credit card, he had dumped her car at an apartment complex nearby. We found the car and then we located him Saturday afternoon.”
According to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office website, Matthews was booked on May 3, 2014, for non-premeditated murder, motor vehicle theft and burglary with assault and battery. No bail has been set for the murder charge and Matthews remained in custody at the time of press.
The Bradenton Herald states that Matthews had numerous felony convictions, which breaks down to approximately 30 different cases dating from 2001-14. He was originally charged with eight counts of burglary of a conveyance and dealing in stolen property in 2001, states the Herald Tribune.
“I know he does have a history of several arrests,” said Bristow.
Helen Van Orden's daughter, Mary Ann Layhew, and son, Charles Van Orden, both have reason to believe that Matthews knew of their mother before the incident.
According to the Bradenton Herald, Layhew explained that Matthews was her son's friend and knew where Helen Van Orden lived.
After the alleged murder, Matthews admitted to killing Helen Van Orden to three people, two of whom have given sworn statements to officials.
“To have her life end like this is horrible. Really the only good thing that came with this was that we closed the case in about 24 hours,” said Bristow. “That was very good work by our detectives.”
The case is still open and no other details have been released. Her funeral was held on Saturday at Manasota Memorial in Oneco.
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