Squaw Valley man arrested in death of 81-year-old mother

A Squaw Valley man faces a charge of elder abuse in connection with the death of his 81-year-old mother, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Spokesman Tony Botti said deputies were called to the 1000 block of Silver Lane on Aug. 6, after a passerby saw Kaoru “Kay” Minamoto, 81, on the ground next to her son, Steve Minamoto, 59.

Paramedics took Kay Minamoto to Community Regional Medical Center, where she died of her injuries.

Detectives reported that the son and mother got into an argument that turned into a physical altercation, and that Steve Minamoto pushed Kaoru Minamoto, causing her to fall and strike her head on the ground.

After a judge issued an arrest warrant, Steve Minamoto was arrested Tuesday and booked into Fresno County Jail with a bail of $525,000.

This story was originally published October 7, 2015 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Squaw Valley man arrested in death of 81-year-old mother."