Ex-Housekeeper Arrested For Shires Murder in Avery

The Calaveras County Sheriff´s Department reports the former housekeeper of an Arnold man was arrested Thursday for his murder.

42-year-old Patricia Ann Ordway has already been in custody on charges of forgery and theft, and she´s now been rebooked for first degree murder without bail.

On September 17th, the body of 77-year-old Ray Shires was found beaten to death in Avery.

Soon after, Shires´s wallet and checkbook were found near Highway 4 east of Angels Camp, along with a carpenter´s hammer which investigators think may have been the murder weapon.

A hearing on the theft and forgery charges had been scheduled for next Tuesday morning at 10:30am, the Calaveras County DA´s office says arraignment for the new murder charges is Tuesday afternoon at 1:30.