Indian police: Teenage American arrested in death of his mother at resort

American, 16, arrested in mother’s death in India

JAIPUR, India — A teenage American has been arrested on suspicion of killing his mother in a tourist resort in western India, police said Monday.

The woman, identified as Cindy Iannarelli, of Cecil, Pennsylvania, was found with her throat slit at the resort in the historic town of Osian in Rajasthan state last Thursday.

Police superintendent Girdhari Lal Sharma said the 16-year-old son, Joncarlo Patton, was questioned and later arrested on Saturday. A judge ordered he be sent to a juvenile detention facility pending investigation.

Under Indian law, Patton would face charges when an investigation is complete, unless American officials seek his return to the U.S.

A post-mortem examination of Iannarelli’s body showed that a sharp-edged weapon was used to slit her throat, Sharma told The Associated Press.

During questioning, Patton told the police that he was traumatized by his parents’ divorce and wanted them to reconcile, Sharma said.

He also told the police that he had a heated argument with his mother on Thursday night and killed her, according to Sharma.

Patton left the resort early Friday and was picked up at the airport in the nearest big town, Jodhpur, 60 miles (100 kilometers) away, Sharma said.

He carried his mother’s travel documents and credit cards and dumped them in a dustbin at the airport, Sharma said. Police later recovered the documents.

According to police, Patton said he had been studying in Italy, and he and his mother had come to India to see the country.

Iannarelli’s body is being sent to the United States, Sharma said.