The Gainesville Police Department ruled the death of 63-year-old Roxie Scott-Kotb a homicide and charged her adopted son, Darryl Dewayne Scott, with the killing.
Scott-Kotb's body was found inside her Bivens Cove apartment nine days after she was last known to be alive, said Ben Tobias, public information officer for the Gainesville Police Department.
"When we have a victim that's, unfortunately, been lying there for that long, it makes that investigation so much more difficult," Tobias said.
Scott was arrested Sunday in Orange County when officers found him driving a stolen vehicle and in possession of Scott-Kotb's credit cards.
Tobias said Scott became a suspect to GPD after they spoke with Scott's employer and discovered he stole a vehicle and fled the area. GPD then became concerned with his actions and followed a credit card trail that led them all the way to New York.
Prior to the slaying, there were no reported incidents between Scott-Kotb and Scott, but GPD did learn there were arguments over money and other family matters. They were not reported, Tobias said.
GPD investigators have traveled to Orange County where Scott is being held, and they hope to extradite him to Alachua County where he will face murder and grand theft auto charges.
"Anytime you think there's something suspicious or possible criminal activity, get [police] involved," said Tobias.
Casey Christ edited this story online.
Correction: The audio report, a previous version of this story and the video report list the wrong age for the victim. At the time of her death, she was 63. She was born Jan. 22, 1949.