Mom Missing For 4 Years Found Dead Inside Manhole At Her Home, Son Arrested For Murder

An 82-year-old Colorado woman who had been missing for four years has been found dead at her home and her adult son was arrested for her murder, authorities said.

Sylvia Frens disappeared from the home in Grand Rapids and was reported missing by concerned family members in May of 2018.

During further investigation, cops found out that the woman’s son, 54-year-old son, Richard Vandervelde, had been using her debit card and was in possession of her car.

When police spoke to Vandervelde, he reportedly told them his mother had left for California with a friend and that she had authorized him to use her debit card.

For four years, police found no new leads to Frens' location, but Vandervelde remained a prime suspect in her disappearance.

It appears now that the elderly woman had never even left her home.

In March this year, Sylvia's remains were found in a trash bag inside a manhole at the property where she last resided.

The gruesome discovery was made after the current owner of Frens' former residence called authorities saying they found a trash bag inside a manhole in the house.

Responding detectives found what appeared to be an animal leg and human remains. DNA results confirmed the remains belonged to Frens.

"An autopsy concluded injuries consistent with blunt force trauma to the head and the manner of death was ruled a homicide," Grand Junction police wrote in a report.

Vandervelde was arrested on May 19 in Pinellas County, Florida.

According to Grand Junction PD, Vandervelde stole $10,000 cash out of his mother’s bank account over the last four years. Reportedly, he was also pawning off her possessions.

He is now charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a dead body, abuse of a corpse, crimes against an at-risk adult, motor vehicle theft, and fraud-identity theft of $5,000-$20,000.

He will appear in court on June 21.