Parolee charged in deaths of 2 women, toddler and kidnap

LOS ANGELES - A parolee charged with raping a Los Angeles teen and trying to set her ablaze has been indicted on three counts of murder.

A grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday says Robert Ransom Jr. killed three people over two days last year.

Prosecutors say 31-year-old Ransom pleaded not guilty to charges that could carry the death penalty.

The indictment says he fatally shot a woman March 1 and killed a woman and her toddler son four days later.

Ransom is also charged with the March 20 rape and kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl who managed to escape from his van after being doused in gas.

Prosecutors say Ransom was on parole at the time for being a felon possessing a gun.

He is being held without bail.