VALDOSTA – A Valdosta man has been indicted for allegedly murdering his mother and setting her house on fire.

On December 14, 2015 at approximately 7:37 a.m., patrol officers with the Valdosta Police Department and Firefighters with the Valdosta Fire Department responded to the 100 block of Perry Lane in reference to a report of a residential fire.

Upon arrival, they were able to locate a residence in the 100 block of Perry Lane that was on fire. While extinguishing the flames, Valdosta Firefighter personnel found Diane Calhoun-Perry, 61, deceased in the residence.

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Person’s Crimes and Arson Detectives from the Valdosta Police Department along with the Valdosta Fire Department’s Arson Investigators responded to handle the investigation. Additional assistance was also requested from Crime Scene Technicians from the Valdosta-Lowndes Regional Crime Laboratory.

Detectives made contact with and interviewed several subjects while on scene and collected evidence. Due to the suspicious nature of the incident, detectives requested an autopsy to determine the victim’s cause of death. Calhoun-Perry’s body was sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Laboratory, where an autopsy was completed.

In March 2016, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Medical Examiner ruled Calhoun-Perry’s death as a homicide. Detectives and representatives from the District Attorney’s Office met with the Medical Examiner to discuss her results. Detectives re-interviewed witnesses in the case and developed Calhoun-Perry’s son, Freddie Finnissee, as a suspect in this case.

On May 25, 2016, Detectives presented the case to the Grand Jury and Finnissee was indicated for Malice Murder and Arson.

Finnissee is currently in the Lowndes County Jail.

“Both the Valdosta Police Department and the Valdosta Fire Department worked closely with the District Attorney’s Office on this case. Early on in the investigation, all agencies involved were careful not to rush to judgement in determining the victim’s cause of death. After careful review of the autopsy results, after consultation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Lab who conducted the autopsy, and with other evidence gathered in this case, Freddie Finnissee was indicted for Malice Murder. Although there was a delay in obtaining an indictment in this case, the Valdosta Police Department and Valdosta Fire Department were methodical in their investigation to ensure that the outcome was correct,” said VPD Chief Brian Childress.