Prosecutors: South Dakota man strangled his mother, boy

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Prosecutors say a 24-year-old South Dakota man strangled his mother and a 7-year-old boy in a mobile home.

Heath Otto, of Sioux Falls, appeared in Minnehaha County court Monday on two counts of first-degree murder. Bond was set at $5 million dollars cash only, although Otto's public defender reserved the right to argue bail later.

Otto is accused of killing his mother, 48-year-old Carol Simon, and the boy. Authorities say Otto set off an alarm just before 1 p.m. Sunday and was standing outside the home where he also lives when deputies arrived.

Deputies found the bodies of the woman and boy inside. The Argus Leader (http://argusne.ws/2fWxXia ) reports prosecutors say Otto slit the victims' throats to make sure they were dead.

Authorities have not disclosed the relationship of the boy to the others.

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Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com