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Last updated on Monday, April 9, 2018
(RIVERSIDE, CA.) - A Monroe County man was arrested in California late Thursday night after arrest warrants were issued related to a death investigation and fire on February 10 near Bloomington on Handy Road.
Firefighters found 85-year-old Lerae Bush dead inside of her home.
49-year-old Noel Montes Cazares, AKA "Giovanni Bush", was arrested Thursday on charges of murder, arson, neglect of a dependent and obstruction of justice.
On February 10th, rescue crews and investigators were called to 5601 Handy Road by a neighbor at approximately 11:29 a.m. Upon their arrival, Perry-Clear Creek Fire Protection District found the home engulfed in flames.
Investigators also found Giovanni Bush outside the burning home.
Bush told investigators his mother was deceased inside the structure and that he had been unsuccessful in trying to get her out of the home. He was then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The Indiana State Fire Marshal, a division of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, was called to the scene along with Indiana State Police Detectives. The Monroe County Fire Investigation Task Force assisted in the investigation.
Investigators located documents at the scene belonging to Noel Montes Cazares along with a photo that possibly appeared to be the same as Giovanni Bush, leading investigators to question his true identity. The suspect indicated the deceased female was his mother, although investigators could find no records to confirm their relationship. Family members later told detectives that to their knowledge, Lerae Bush never had children.
Subsequent investigation determined Lerae Bush suffered from dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and was dependent on Noel Montes Cazares for food, transportation and clothing. Detectives found no source of employment for Cazares and the residence in which she died had no functioning utilities.
He "advised that he had left the residence early on Feb. 10, 2018, to purchase Starbucks coffee and two donuts at Jack's Donuts, because his mother loved donuts," the report says. He said that when he returned, he observed "a white, whispy smoke coming off of the metal roof of the residence." He went inside and saw a fire to his right, which he attempted to smother with a piece of paneling, noting there was waist-high black smoke in the room.
He told police he found Bush sitting upright on the couch, and that when he tried to pick her up, she was "too slippery." He said he knew she was dead by the "look on her face." He left her there.
An autopsy showed she died from carbon monoxide intoxication from smoke and was alive when the fire began.
Investigators determined the fire began in the living room area, where they believe Cazares took combustibles and started the fire. Investigators do not believe gasoline was used, but were unable to rule out any other type of flammable liquid.
The fire started between where Bush was sitting and the doors, preventing her from leaving. The smoke and fire caused "Bush to become quickly disoriented, possibly burned, and kept her from being able to escape the home," the report stated.
The 733-square-foot building was bare. There were no working appliances, no cabinets, no stove, no refrigerator, and firefighters found no food. They said the room was furnished with a sectional couch, an ottoman and a large television. There were two heating units and a single plastic water bottle.
Detectives later learned that on Nov. 3 of last year, Cazares moved Bush to Autumn Hills Alzheimer's Special Care Center in Bloomington, and later took her from there to live at the Handy Road address.
Neighbors told detectives they were surprised anyone lived in the structure.
The investigation later revealed a trust agreement in the name of Lerae Bush with one beneficiary, which had been removed and replaced with the name of Giovanni Bush.
Detectives tracked down Bush's next of kin, a first cousin in Texas, who said that "10 million dollars of wealth was an extreme understatement of Lerae Bush's financial value," their report said. The cousin said Bush had accrued "an unknown amount of real estate properties across the United States, and assets in artwork and collectibles of high value in addition to her financial assets." She said Bush had no children and that she had never heard of Cazares.
When they interviewed a woman identified as Cazares' girlfriend, they say she admitted returning with him to the scene of the fire to retrieve safes containing a handgun, cash, jewelry and two burned briefcases with paperwork. Police say they located the items inside Cazares' Honda Element, along with a plastic bag full of partially burned $100 bills.
Due to conflicting statements delivered by Cazares, witness information and evidence at the scene, an arrest warrant was issued Thursday afternoon in Monroe County. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department in California later arrested Cazares without incident.
Indiana State Police detectives now begin the process of extradition.
The investigation is ongoing by the Indiana Fire Marshal's Office and the Indiana State Police. Additional charges could follow.
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