Arizona Missing Woman: Grandson Suspected After 78-Year-Old Disappears

A missing Arizona woman is believed to have been found dead, and police are looking at the grandson of the 78-year-old woman as the chief person of interest.

Hellen Jean Lee went missing this week from her home in Phoenix, and after investigating the home, police found evidence of foul play including a garage door that had suffered heavy damage.

Shortly after police learned of the missing Arizona woman, they arrested her grandson, Jason Howell, on an unrelated charge. Howell lived in the same home as Lee.

Police have accused Howell of stealing a car on late Wednesday afternoon, the same day that Hellen Jean Lee was reported missing. There was a 12-year-old girl in the back of the car when it was stolen, but she managed to jump to safety.

Police later caught up to Howell, but after pulling over, he allegedly rammed a police cruiser, disabling his own car.

Police found the missing Arizona woman’s van a few blocks from where Howell allegedly stole the car.

Later, police said Howell directed them to a place in the rural Gila Bend area where they found a body which a police spokeswoman said is likely the Arizona missing woman.

Howell is being considered a “person of interest” in the case, and he faces charges of kidnapping, grand theft auto, and fleeing from police after the stolen car incident.

“Right now, he is a person of interest only,” a police spokeswoman said. “We are actively interviewing him for information.”

On Friday, Howell was ordered to be held in lieu of $300,000 bond. He does not yet face any charges in relation to the disappearance of the Arizona missing woman and police said he is not officially a suspect.