Son charged with beating mom, setting body on fire
Suspect may have fled to Mexico
By PAIGE HEWITT
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 8, 2009, 6:52PM


A 24-year-old man suspected of beating his mother to death with a hammer, setting her body on fire and then fleeing to Mexico last week has been charged with murder, according to court documents.

Jose Arturo Palacios is accused in the Aug. 3 killing of 57-year-old Laura Palacios, according to an affidavit.

Family members told investigators that he suffered from a mental disorder and was addicted to drugs.

Authorities were summoned to a fire in a wooded area in the 13600 block of Westpark around 1 p.m., where they found the mother's body “severely burnedâ€