Two people were arrested Friday in the killing of a 92-year-old woman who was found in a shallow grave earlier this week, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Krystopher Laws, 21, and Joshua McClellan, 19, are facing charges of first-degree murder and robbery.
As the pair were brought to the Lake County Jail, McClellan told TV cameras through tears that he didn’t kill Rubye James.
“I loved that woman,” he said.
McClellan told crews he did work for James, helping her mow the lawn and with other chores around the house.
He said one night he was looking into empty cars for cash to buy marijuana when he ended taking one of the cars “for a drive” not knowing it was James’ vehicle.
Laws, on the other hand, was quiet going into the jail. Records show he has been arrested three times in Lake County on theft-related charges.
James hadn’t been seen since Monday.
During a search Wednesday evening near Leesburg, her car was discovered along with human remains in a shallow grave, Sheriff’s Office spokesman John Herrell said.
An autopsy Thursday confirmed the remains were hers, and her death was ruled a homicide.
Officials have not said what detectives think happened to James but called the circumstances “suspicious.”
She lived alone at a home on Edgewood Road, just outside Leesburg.
Check back for updates to this breaking news story.
chayes@orlandosentinel.com, 407-420-5493 or Twitter: @journo_christal
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