OC Man, 70, Charged With Allegedly Killing His Mother In 1994 For Her Money

NEWPORT BEACH  (CBSLA/AP) — A 70-year-old Dana Point man has been charged with allegedly killing his mother for financial gain in 1994, authorities said Thursday.

John Henry Van Uden III is charged in an arrest warrant issued Oct. 26 with murder, with a special circumstance allegation of killing for financial gain.

76-year-old Marjorie Van Uden, was found beaten to death in the living room of her Corona del Mar home on Keel Drive on March 5, 1994.

Neighbors later contacted police after she was not seen for several days, and a $50,000 reward was issued for the capture of her killer.

"This woman," said Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis, "a mother of three and grandmother of five, did not pass peacefully in her sleep. The back of her skull had been brutally shatttered by a blunt object. Our detectives immediately launched a homicide investigation."

Authorities told CBS2's Michele Gile today they always believed the victim's son was her killer but wanted to gather enough evidence to convince a jury.

She also spoke to Marjorie's former neighbor.

"When you walk by the house," said Patricia Dreyfus, "you kinda wonder about Marjorie and what happened to her."

Arraignment has been scheduled for Monday in Santa Ana. It's not known if Van Uden has an attorney.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Wire services contributed to this report.)