VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — A Terre Haute man was arrested in connection to his mother’s murder Thursday.
According to the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office, Michael Wilson, 40, of Terre Haute, was located in Owen County after his mother was found dead in southern Vigo County Thursday morning.
Sheriff John Plasse said a family member found 72-year-old Gayle Wilson dead at her home on Carlisle Street. Following an investigation, it was determined that she died of “unnatural causes.”
Authorities immediately began a search for Michael Wilson.
“We want to get some answers from him and say ‘hey, we hear what happened,'” Plasse said after Wilson was named a person of interest. “Just kind of put the puzzle together. Not to say he actually did something before we talk to him. We don’t jump to conclusions.”
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A school lockout at Dixie Bee and Honey Creek Schools due to police activity is reportedly connected to the investigation.
This is not the first time police have been called to the home. Back in January of 2012, Michael Wilson argued with his father, setting the home on fire.
“I was actually the Terre Haute Police SWAT commander when the incident happened here before,” said Sheriff Plasse. “The house was already on fire and at that time when we pulled up went in the house because there was people in there. The father, we pulled him out of the garage. He was unconscious, unfortunately he didn’t make it.”
Michael Wilson’s father died of cardiac arrest that day, Wilson eventually pleaded guilty to arson and as part of his sentence had to spend time in an adult mental health program.
Wilson is now being at the Vigo County Jail on charges of murder and auto theft in connection to his mother’s death.
