Man charged with killing his mother

A Polson man is charged with deliberate homicide in the murder of his mother, whose body was discovered in her apartment Saturday afternoon.

Brandon John Orr, 25, was arrested at the crime scene Saturday after Polson police officers responded to the call at an apartment on Main Street at 2:41 that afternoon, July 29. There, they found the body of Brenda Lea Francis, 46, who had died from blows to her head and a knife wound on her throat, according to a statement by the Sheriff's office.

According to Undersheriff Mike Sargeant, a friend of Francis' became concerned after she failed to show up for a previously scheduled appointment, and did not answer knocks on her door. After entering her apartment, her body was discovered and the friend called requesting a coroner.

After ambulance personnel and Polson police officers responded to the scene, they realized Francis had not died of natural causes, Sargeant said.

Orr reportedly was in the apartment when the friend entered, and fled the scene, according to Sargeant.

Orr later returned to the scene and turned himself in to a Polson police officer, Sargeant said, after they had begun searching the neighborhood.

Sargeant said there was evidence at the scene to indicate Orr had contemplated suicide.

Orr made an initial appearance via video in justice court Monday afternoon, and his case will be turned over to district court at a later date. He is being held without bond on advice of chief deputy county attorney Mitch Young.

According to a prepared statement released last weekend from the Sheriff's office, Orr has been cooperative with investigators, although they don't have a motive yet for his actions.