Worcester Man Arrested After Missing Man Found Dead In Basement
WORCESTER (CBS) -- A Worcester man was arrested after a man reported missing weeks ago was found dead in a basement, police said. Thomas Garon, 53, was taken into custody Tuesday.
Sixty-eight-year-old Marcelino Mueces, also of Worcester, was reported missing on Feb. 19. One week later, police said they found his car on Villa Nova Street.
"During the investigation, Worcester Police detectives obtained a search warrant for a dwelling located at 24 Penn Ave. On March 2, 2019 detectives executed the search warrant," said a statement from police.
While there, police discovered human remains and the body was identified as Mueces. The official cause and manner of death are still pending.
Mueces' family was sobbing uncontrollably at police headquarters Tuesday as his girlfriend searched for answers. "I honestly don't even know what's going on through my mind right now," said Yolanda Lopez. "We just want to be sure that justice is served."
It was Lopez who reported Mueces missing. A break in the case didn't come until a week later when police say Garon was spotted parking the missing man's pickup truck on Villa Nova Street and cashing his last check after he vanished.
"Marcelino was a person who was very quiet," Lopez said.
Police say the suspect and victim knew each other, but won't give specifics. For now, a family is struggling to figure out how the gentle man with seven children and seven grandchildren could wind up buried in a Worcester cellar.
"This is a guy who calls his daughters every two hours after getting out of school," said Lopez.
Garon will be arraigned on Wednesday on charges of moving a body, identity theft and lying to police. He could face more charges as the investigation continues.