Documents: Arson Suspect Says He Killed Mom
By DOUG GREENE
Updated 7:45 AM EST, Wed, Jan 7, 2009
The Griswold man accused of setting fire to his home Monday told detectives he strangled his mother, according to court documents.
Carson Mueller said nothing Tuesday when he appeared in court in Norwich but, using his heavily bandaged right hand, he signed a document.
Denise Mueller, died from traumatic asphyxia and neck compression, the medical examiner said Tuesday. Her death was ruled a homicide.
State police said Denise Mueller is Carson Mueller's mother. He is in jail on arson charges and has not been charged with murder.
Crews started investigating early Monday morning when a fire was reported at a Richardson Hill Road home. Inside the mailbox, investigators found a note indicating that a murder had been committed and that the note's writer was attempting suicide, police said Monday.
The Day of New London reported Monday that Mueller, and his mother, Denise Mueller, 69, owned the home.
Authorities investigated and found a woman’s body about seven miles away, in Pachaug State Forest.
Carson Mueller drove to a gas station on Route 32 in Franklin and called 911, saying he'd been in a collision, officials said.
He told detectives he intended to shoot himself after dousing the house with gasoline and killing his mother, according to a state police affidavit. Instead of shooting himself, Mueller drove to a Gasman "fuel facility" in Franklin, where he called 911, according to court documents.
Police asked the judge to seal the report but Judge Robert Young denied the request, saying he saw no reason to do that.
Part of the affidavit is blacked out, including the section about the death and possibly an explanation for the crimes. The document says that when Mueller had doused the house with gasoline he was in his second floor bedroom when he lit a match.
The house exploded, blowing Mueller through the wall onto the lawn. He suffered burns to his hand and injured his lower back and feet and was treated at W. Backus Hospital before his arrest.
Mueller has no prior arrest record and is unemployed. His bond remains at $1 million.
Carson Mueller’s father told the Norwich Bulletin that his son has had a difficult life. Read more here.
First Published: Jan 6, 2009 1:59 PM EST
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