Man suspected of killing mom arrested

Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of murdering his mother two months ago in San Marcos on the same day he lit himself on fire inside a car in Escondido.

Sean Devin Mccarthy is suspected of killing 68-yearold Denise Elaine Mccarthy on June 8, according to sheriff’s homicide Lt. Thomas Seiver.

Investigators discovered the body of Denise Mccarthy — who died as a result of blunt force trauma — after finding her son burning inside the car and discovering evidence at that location that led them to the homicide scene.

That same night, paramedics took Sean Mccarthy to UC San Diego Medical Center’s burn unit, where he was admitted in grave condition with injuries that were thought at the time to potentially be life-threatening. But Seiver said Friday that Sean Mccarthy ended up surviving his injuries.

Investigators arrested him Thursday on suspicion of one count of murder, Seiver said. He remained hospitalized Friday under the guard of sheriff ’s deputies.

The investigation began around 6:30 p.m. on June 8 when Escondido police and firefighters responded to the report of the car fire on Foothill View Place near Foothill View Way. Homicide investigators have not disclosed what evidence was found there, but it led sheriff ’s detectives to check a home about a half-mile away, on El Toro Lane near Borden Road, where Denise Mccarthy was found dead.

Seiver said in June there were no outstanding suspects in the slaying, but stopped short at the time of naming Sean Mccarthy as the suspect. The lieutenant has not disclosed a motive in the alleged murder, nor released details about how Mccarthy was killed or what led up to her death.