Cory Steven Mangekian, 26, formerly of Nashua (2017 photo)

PULASKI COUNTY, Virginia – The death “under suspicious circumstances” of former Nashua resident Sandra Demers Mangekian in her Pulaski County residence last week has led to the arrest of her son, Cory Mangekian, who had most recently been living in Texas, authorities said.

Cory Mangekian, 26, was taken into custody Friday afternoon at a supermarket called the Food Lion, in the west-central Virginia city of Radford, according to statements issued by the Pulaski Couinty Sheriff’s office. They said a “private tip from a citizen” led them to the supermarket.

Mangekian was arrested just under 48 hours after Pulaski County sheriffs were called to 6711 Oxford Ave. in Fairlawn, a CDP (census-designated place) of about 2,200 people within Pulaski County, for a report of a possible deceased person in the residence.

Upon arrival, sheriffs located a deceased woman, later identified as Sandra Mangekian, 60, a former Nashua resident who moved to Virginia some years ago.

Her death was ruled “suspicious” in nature, according to authorities.

Radford, the city in which Cory Mangekian was arrested, is just across the New River from Fairlawn, and roughly 30 miles west of Roanoke, one of Virginia’s largest cities.

Cory Mangekian has been held without bond at the New River Valley Regional Jail since his arrest. Whether he has been arraigned, or an arraignment has been scheduled, isn’t yet known.

The Pulaski County sheriff’s office stated shortly after Cory Mangekian’s arrest that they had charged him with first-degree murder in connection with his mother’s death.

They said he also faces one count each of unauthorized use of a vehicle, breaking and entering, and grand larceny. They added that additional charges are possible.

Those three charges stem in part from allegations that following the alleged incident, Cory Mangekian fled his mother’s residence in her vehicle, taking with him a firearm and ammunition.

That prompted authorities to label Cory Mangekian “presumed armed and dangerous” in bulletins issued to other law enforcement agencies and to the public.

Shortly after the alleged incident occurred, sheriffs on patrol in the area spotted Sandra Mangekian’s vehicle outside another Fairlawn residence.

Upon investigating, sheriffs discovered the residence, which was unoccupied at the time, had been broken into, and that a 2013 Infinity SUV had been taken.

Sheriffs posted on social media a description of both the vehicle and Cory Mangekian, describing him as “a person of interest” in the “suspicious death” of Sandra Mangekian.

According to some of the local, regional and state media outlets reporting on the incident, Cory Mangekian was most recently living in Texas, and possibly in Boca Raton, Florida, and then in Tennessee, but had been listed as homeless over that period of time.

How long Cory Mangekian had been in Virginia before the alleged series of incidents that led to his arrest is unknown.

Also unknown as yet are the circumstances that precipitated Sandra Mangekian’s death. That information would likely become available once Cory Mangekian is arraigned on the charges.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.