An area man has been arrested in connection with the death of his father.

Brandon M. Lawrence, 29, the son of Michael A. Lawrence, 48,  was arrested Saturday around 7:30 a.m. at a rest area in Missouri. He is charged with murder and motor vehicle theft.
 

Richland County Sheriff's Maj. Dale Fortney said Michael Lawrence was found dead around 9:30 p.m. Friday by family members in is home at 8607 Planktown Road near Shiloh.
  

Fortney said family members had reported they had not seen Michael Lawrence for days and he was not answering his phone.

Fortney said Brandon Lawrence became the primary focus of the investigation through the preliminary investigation.

Fortney said Brandon Lawrence had been living with his father and had not been seen for a number of days. He was last seen driving his father's truck. 
 

Fortney said the crime scene was processed by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Identification and the Richland County Division of the U.S. Marshal's Task Force was asked to assist in the apprehension of Brandon Lawrence.  

Brandon Lawrence was taken to the Lawrence County Jail where he's awaiting extradition on a $1-million bond.
  

Fortney said detectives from the Major Crimes Unit of the Richland County Sheriff's Office will travel to Missouri to retrieve evidence, interview the suspect and return him once extradition has been adjudicated. 

The Richland County Coroner's Office will determine the manner and cause of death of Michael Lawrence, pending autopsy results from the Summit County Coroner's Office.