A North Dakota man is accused of killing his 60-year-old mother before fleeing across several states and leading police on a high-speed chase that topped 100 mph.
Brandon Cletus George, 42, has been charged with murder in the death of Pamela Mendoza, who authorities say was found dead inside the Fargo apartment she shared with her son.
The investigation began Sept. 28 after Mendoza failed to show up for work and stopped responding to relatives and co-workers.
Her cellphone was reportedly going straight to voicemail.
Police were sent to the apartment in the 1800 block of 34th Street South in Fargo for a welfare check.
Officers found the door locked and received no response from anyone inside.
The Fargo Fire Department eventually helped police enter the home.
Inside the living room, investigators found Mendoza dead.
According to court documents, her body was covered in blood and wrapped in a rug.
Investigators said Mendoza had multiple cuts on her body, possible blunt-force trauma to her head and a mark on her neck.
Authorities also documented what they described as an unusual “star-like pattern” injury behind her right ear.
Investigators have not publicly determined exactly what caused that injury, though court documents say it could have been consistent with a gunshot wound.
A .22-caliber shell casing was also discovered near a detached garage on the property.
Police said data recovered from Mendoza’s smartwatch helped establish a possible timeline for her death.
The device reportedly recorded normal steps and heart-rate activity until approximately 9:40 p.m. on Sept. 25.
After that time, the activity stopped completely.
Prosecutors allege Mendoza was killed sometime between Sept. 24 and Sept. 25.
Investigators then began tracing her bank card and vehicle.
Authorities say Mendoza’s debit card was used after her death in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and later in Grand Island, Nebraska.
Surveillance footage from a Walmart in Rochester, Minnesota, allegedly showed George using his mother’s debit card on Sept. 27 after arriving in her vehicle.
Police eventually tracked George to Nebraska.
On Sept. 29, authorities spotted the vehicle near Milford.
What followed was a dramatic pursuit along Interstate 80 involving local police, sheriff’s deputies and the Nebraska State Patrol.
State troopers said the Toyota Camry reached speeds above 100 mph as it raced east toward the Lincoln area.
The Nebraska State Patrol also launched its AirWing to track the vehicle from above.
Near Waverly, George allegedly drove onto the shoulder toward a trooper who was attempting to deploy stop sticks.
Troopers later successfully deployed the devices, and the Camry eventually exited Interstate 80 near Ashland and came to a stop.
Authorities said George initially refused repeated commands to get out of the vehicle.
After several minutes, he finally exited shortly after 9:10 a.m. and was taken into custody without further incident.
A trooper reportedly noticed what appeared to be blood stains near the driver’s seatbelt.
Investigators also said George had injuries to his hands.
Mendoza’s debit card was allegedly recovered from the vehicle.
George was booked into the Lancaster County Jail in Nebraska while authorities worked to return him to North Dakota.
In addition to the murder case in Fargo, George faces several charges in Nebraska connected to the police chase.
Those charges include willful reckless driving, flight to avoid arrest, terroristic threats, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and attempted murder stemming from the allegation that he drove toward the trooper deploying stop sticks.
Fargo detectives traveled to Nebraska to interview George and process Mendoza’s vehicle for additional evidence.
Court records reportedly show that George has faced numerous criminal cases dating back more than two decades, including allegations involving threats, property damage and erratic behavior.
In a separate prior case, probation-related paperwork for George had reportedly been delivered to Mendoza around the same time prosecutors believe she was killed.
Authorities have not publicly announced a motive in her death.
