Florida man allegedly killed his mother after preivous incidents of violent behavior towards her: cops

A woman was found dead in her Florida home this week, and now her son has been charged with murder in connection to her death.

Belgica Rivera, 55, was found unresponsive in her home in DeBary, Florida, around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.

Responding deputies and detectives saw signs of a struggle and a large amount of blood on and around Rivera, who was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police say her injuries appeared to have been caused by an edged weapon.

Detectives learned the victim had been in an argument with her son three days earlier and that he had a history of violent and threatening behavior toward her, according to the sheriff's office.

Police then tried to find her son David Rivera, 30. A deputy spotted David Rivera a few hours later outside a Save-A-Lot in Deltona, Florida.

David Rivera initially resisted deputies by providing a false name, police said. When deputies took David Rivera into custody, deputies noticed dried blood on his clothes.

Detectives determined the blood on his clothes matched the victim, according to the sheriff's office.

David Rivera also made statements to detectives that implicated him in his mother’s death, according to police.

David Rivera’s previous arrests include one that stemmed from a 2016 incident involving his mother. In that case, David Rivera climbed a tree and killed one of his mother’s dogs by hanging it, according to police.

He also threatened to hang himself but was eventually taken into custody after an approximately eight-hour standoff with deputies.

David Rivera was charged with felony animal cruelty in that incident.

David Rivera is being held without bond at the Volusia County Branch Jail on a charge of first-degree murder.