Records Point to Gruesome Disposal of Grandmother’s Body

They drove separate vehicles to a dirt road in the Winchester area, where McLean opened the trunk of his grandmother’s car and showed Erickson a dead body, believed to be that of Sutton, Martin wrote.

The head of the deceased was face down and she had a belt wrapped around her neck. McLean hit the face of the deceased twice.

“McLean told Erickson he killed his grandmother (Sutton) and didn’t know what to do,” Martin wrote.

The two then went back to a residence in the 27000 block of Graystone Lane in Murrieta where McLean lived with his grandmother, and discussed what to do with the body.

The next day, Friday, July 12, the two regrouped.

Video surveillance from Walmart in Murrieta allegedly shows the men purchased two machetes, gloves, bleach and beer that same day, Martin wrote.

At 10:17 p.m. Sunday, July 14, Murrieta police responded to the Graystone Lane home after Sutton’s daughter called police and stated she had not heard from her mother since July 10 which was unlike her.

She told police the house on Graystone Lane smelled like bleach and that there were fans running, Martin wrote.

Responding officers proceeded to search the house, as McLean was on probation for  previous drug-related offenses. His probation terms permitted the search of the residence.

Officers smelled the odor of bleach, noticed fans were running and there were recently cleaned surfaces.

In McLean’s bedroom, police allegedly found Sutton’s debit card and a sunglasses case containing methamphetamine and a pipe.

McLean was immediately arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and transported to the Murrieta Police Department.

A few hours later, a patrol officer recognized Erickson’s vehicle driving near Graystone Lane because the two suspects had been previously arrested on suspicion of vandalism charges July 11 while in the same car.

The officer stopped Erickson on suspicion of a vehicle violation. The 18-year-old was subsequently questioned about the missing person case which resulted in him being transported to the police station for further interrogation.

Erickson told officers he had recently been “kicked out” of his Wildomar home, and that he had been living with friends and in his car.

Along with Erickson’s alleged recount of the events, Murrieta police took other witness statements that corroborated the story.

A 16-hour investigation also ensued, during which Graystone Lane, a cul de sac in a quiet, newer neighborhood east of Interstate 215, was cordoned off by police tape.

According to Martin’s statement, California Department of Justice technicians assisted in processing the alleged crime scene. They found “evidence of cleaned-up blood throughout the victim’s home.

“They also found several blood smears throughout the house that had not yet been cleaned up,” the detective wrote.

A neighbor told investigators they saw a car resembling the one described by police as Erickson’s being backed into the RV parking space next to the home on Friday, July 12.

“The fence was removed and the vehicle drove through the backyard of the residence and parked along the fence closest to the neighbor’s residence. Two males (one identified as McLean) placed items into the trunk and drove off,” Martin wrote.

————————————————

Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad, the spokesman for this case, did not return an email Thursday as to whether Sutton’s body had been located.

On Wednesday, Conrad said Murrieta police along with other agencies were actively searching, and that the search area was confined to Southern California.

Related Coverage of This Story:

• Suspects Remain Jailed In Murrieta Homicide Investigation; Body Not In Coroner's Office
• UPDATED: 2 Arrested in Disappearance of 71-Year-Old Murrieta Woman
• Grandson, Alleged Accomplice Plead Not Guilty to Homicide Charges in Case of Missing Murrieta Woman

Editor’s Note: The outcome of these allegations, as well as the facts, may change as the case progresses through the legal system. Not all details of each investigation are made public. All items are alleged to have occurred. There should be no assumption of guilt.