DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — An elderly woman found dead following a weekend house fire was the victim of a homicide, Daytona Beach police confirmed Tuesday.
Detectives have arrested Deandre Anderson, 33, and charged him with first-degree murder in connection to Sunday afternoon’s incident along the 500-block of Cannon Street.
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Officers said they were originally called to the home for a “reported physical disturbance” after a 9-1-1 caller told dispatchers that a man living at the residence was attacking an elderly woman.
Officers then called the Daytona Beach Fire Department after they arrived and discovered the house on was on fire.
Police said firefighters later found Viola Miller, 70, dead inside the home after putting out the flames around 1 p.m. Sunday.
According to an arrest report, police saw a man, later identified as Anderson, walking away from the Cannon Street residence upon their arrival.
According to the report, police said he ran when they tried to question him.
A short time later, officers took Anderson into custody along Adams Street in Daytona Beach.
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The arrest report also noted that Miller suffered blunt force trauma to her body, which was severely burned from the fire that was set.
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A machete blade and a pair of scissors were located near her remains, according to the report.
Anderson is being held without bond at the Volusia County Jail.
Stay with WFTV.com and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates on this developing story.