A 17-year-old male was arrested Thursday in connection with the deaths of his girlfriend’s family, who died in a fiery home fire.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Candace Walton, 16, was charged in March with arson and murder in connection with the death of her 21-year-old special needs brother, Gerald Walton, and her mother, 46-year-old Tasha Vandiver.
Firefighters arrived at the family’s Forsyth County home on February 27, just before 3:30 a.m. They found the residence “fully engulfed in flames,” Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman said.
Police issued a nationwide alert for Vandiver’s 2007 Chevy Malibu, which was suspected of being stolen after the fire tore through the family’s home. Authorities initially thought that Candace Walton died inside the home with her family.
A few days later, an officer near Paducah, Kentucky, spotted the Malibu and pulled the driver over. Candace Walton, according to police, was driving.
Monroe County Sheriff Brad Freeman said Walton told the officer she was heading to Oregon, where her boyfriend lived.
On Thursday, police arrested Kaleo Pangelinan in Roseburg, Oregon. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department said investigators found evidence that suggests Pangelinan helped Walton with the crime. At this time, it’s unclear what type of evidence was uncovered.
“After a thorough investigation, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Investigators obtained evidence to also charge Candace Walton’s boyfriend, 17-year-old Kaleo D. Pangelinan, with two (2) counts of murder,” police posted on Facebook.
Good afternoon,After a thorough investigation, Monroe County Sheriff's Office Investigators obtained evidence to also…
Posted by Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Georgia on Thursday, May 14, 2020
Walton faces two counts of felony murder, one count of theft by taking, and one count of arson. Pangelinan is in the process of extradition to Georgia, where he, too, will face murder charges.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Candace Walton and Kaleo Pangelinan/Police Handout]
