Photo: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office
After the installation was completed, Lachazo’s co-worker, David Gonzalez, stepped outside to call the office while Lachazo stayed behind to talk to Udell about the new appliances.
Seconds later, Gonzalez heard screams coming from the house.
He ran back inside and found Udell lying on the floor and bleeding, say police.
As Gonzalez called 911, Lachazo allegedly jumped in the delivery truck and sped away.
Suffering from burns and trauma injuries, she was rushed to Delray Medical Center, where she died on Tuesday from her injuries, say police.
During an interview with authorities, Lachazo allegedly admitted to police that he struck Udell in the head with a wooden mallet and doused her with a liquid chemical, the police report says.
He allegedly told police that the chemical “spontaneously combusted,” the arrest report said. “He denied knowing the ignition source that was used to start the fire.”
Police found an open container of acetone in the kitchen, the police report says.
Police have not said what prompted Lachazo to allegedly attack Udell. He admitted to using cocaine and marijuana earlier in the day, say police in the statement.
Lachazo was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, first-degree arson and armed burglary with battery, the police statement says.
He remains held without bond.
He has not yet entered a plea. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.
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As police continue to investigate, family and friends mourn the death of Udell, who would have turned 76 next week.
“It’s just unbelievable, horrifying,”neighbor, Karen Bransdorf told local ABC affiliate WPBF.
“When I found out what happened, I just couldn’t believe it, that a delivery person would do something like this.”
Retired since 2018, Udell worked at the Florida Atlantic University library as a cataloger for 15 years, WPBF reports.
“The University is devastated to hear about Evelyn’s passing,” it said in a statement. “Evelyn will be remembered as a kind, caring and hard-working member of the staff.”
Best Buy closed its Boca Raton store for the day out of respect for Udell and her family, said CEO Corie Barry in a statement.
“We have suspended our relationship with the small, local company that was sub-contracted to deliver to the customer’s home,” the statement reads.
source: people.com
