A mother and her teen-aged son were arrested by Tiruverumbur police on Thursday for murdering a 60-year-old woman in Variar Nagar along Kallanai Road.
Police sources said Revathy (47) and her son studying in ninth standard had murdered Muthulakshmi (60), their neighbour, as she had refused to extend them financial help.
They had allegedly invited her to their home for a chat. They then strangulated her and robbed 10 sovereigns of gold jewels worn by the aged woman on Wednesday.
They had initially hidden the body under a cot and later dumped it in front of her house early on Thursday morning. After making spot inquiries, the police narrowed down on the mother-son duo who confessed to their crime, it is learnt.
While the mother will be sent for judicial remand, the boy will be housed in an observation home, police sources said.