Woman found dead after Palmdale mobile home fire [updated: suspect arrested]

PALMDALE – A woman in her 60s was found dead Friday after firefighters put out a fire at a mobile home in Palmdale.

The blaze was reported around 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the mobile home park on the 37300 block of 47th Street East, authorities said.

“Firefighters responded to a structure fire at a mobile home… when they arrived they extinguished the fire and they found a deceased female inside the location,” said Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Detective Kevin Acebedo.

Animal Control officers also responded to the scene because the woman’s dogs and birds died in the fire.

Neighbors said the woman was 69, but her name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification, coroner’s officials said Friday night.

Neighbors said the woman lived alone.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Arson Explosives Detail are still working to determine the origin and cause of the fire.

An autopsy next week will determine the woman’s cause of death, coroner’s officials said.

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UPDATED 11.3.15: The woman’s cause of death was determined to be “ligature strangulation” and the death has been ruled a homicide, according to coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.

The woman’s grandson, 33-year-old Richard Settle, has been arrested in connection with this incident, according to NBC Los Angeles. Settle was arrested around 4:48 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, and he is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to LASD inmate records. Settle is due in court Dec. 2.