An 83-year-old woman was murdered and her home set on fire, Orange County deputies said.
Elena Ortega, 83, was found dead in a home in the 5000 block of Turnbull Drive off Hoffner Avenue, on Orange County’s east side, around 6:30 a.m., on Wednesday.
Investigators were called to the home after an alert was raised that smoke was coming from the residence. Inside, detectives found Ortega’s body showing signs of trauma.
While the Medical Examiner will determine the cause of Ortega’s death, investigators say, she was the victim of a homicide and that the fire was deliberately set. Investigators do not believe that Ortega’s murder was a random act.
Ortega lived along and used a walker to get around. Her husband of 65 years, lived in a nearby nursing home, investigators said.
Anyone with information on this crime or who might have seen anything suspicious on Turnbull Drive is urged to call Crimeline at # 1-800-423-TIPS.
