A California man whose wife and mother-in-law were found dead at the scene of a car crash that police suspect was staged has been arrested for investigation of molesting his 17-year-old niece.
Michael Eugene Richardson, 57, of Chula Vista remained jailed Friday without bail after his Thursday arrest on suspicion of statutory rape, authorities said. It could not immediately be determined if he had an attorney.
Two days earlier, the bodies of his wife and mother-in-law were found outside a Honda Accord about 20 miles from Chula Vista in San Diego County.
The car was lying on its roof a few hundred feet down an embankment off state Route 67, but there were no skid marks, according to the California Highway Patrol.
"The manner of death for both of these ladies is a homicide," sheriff's Lt. Dennis Brugos said. "We believe that this accident was actually staged."
The cause of the deaths remained under investigation.
Richardson was not arrested in connection with the deaths but remains the only person of interest, Brugos said.
Richardson is married and owns an auto repair shop.
Last December, Richardson's niece and her mother moved into his home. He was arrested in March on suspicion of having unlawful sex with the teen, but prosecutors declined to pursue the case, according to court records.
Richardson's sister-in-law also requested a temporary restraining order in March that would have forced him to move out. She wrote that Richardson's wife had caught him and the teen "running away together," according to court records.
The niece had refused to file her own restraining order, the woman wrote.
A judge ruled that evidence of their romance was hearsay and denied the request.
Copyright 2010 AP News
