news-record.com

STONEVILLE — A 31-year-old man faces a murder charge in connection with the death of his mother after her body was found in a burning house Wednesday morning by Rockingham County Sheriff’s deputies.

The sheriff’s office charged John Michael Kasten of 140 Ridge Crest Drive with first-degree murder, first-degree arson and resisting an officer. The office charges that Kasten shot and killed his mother, Carla Kasten, 57, who lived at the same address, and set the house on fire.

The man was detained shortly after firefighters extinguished a blaze at the address and his mother’s body was found inside.

Sheriff Sam Page said an officer had to shock Kasten with a Taser gun after he became unruly and refused to follow orders.

Kasten was taken to a local hospital for a medical check. The sheriff’s office charged him at the magistrate’s office Wednesday evening.

“I’m not going to comment on motive at this time,” Page said.

Authorities went to the home just west of Eden when a neighbor called 911 at 10:17 a.m. Wednesday to report a disturbance. The sheriff’s office said it appears the woman was killed by a gunshot, and a firearm was recovered.

The sheriff’s office received calls about disturbances at the Ridge Crest Drive address four times over the past four years, but it was not known Wednesday what the calls were about or if the Kastens lived there during those times.

Page said his office will look at that history.

State prison records indicate that Kasten was convicted of breaking and entering, larceny and embezzlement in Rockingham in 2000 and 2003.

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 627-4881, Ext. 119, or morgan.josey@news-record.com