MURRIETA - An ex-con suspected of raping and killing a 23-year-old Murrieta mom and then setting fire to the apartment where her 3-year-old son was sleeping was charged today with first-degree murder and other felonies.

Marquise Denzell McGlown, 22, of Hemet, could face life in prison without parole, or possibly the death penalty, if convicted in the Oct. 31 slaying of Shanae Christina Wesley.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office filed a complaint charging McGlown with the murder count, as well as attempted murder, rape and special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and killing during the commission of a felony.

McGlown, who is being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, is slated to be arraigned tomorrow afternoon.

According to prosecutors, on the night of Oct. 30, Wesley encountered McGlown and his friend, with whom she was acquainted, at a Temecula bar and invited them back to her residence at the Waterstone Apartments, 24850 Hancock Ave., to visit.

After a while, McGlown and his friend left the unit and went their separate ways, according to the D.A.'s office.

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[ Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary ] had taken Wesley's keys and made his way back into the apartment after his friend was gone and is alleged to have then raped and murdered Wesley," said D.A.'s office spokesman John Hall.

"McGlown then set a fire in the apartment in an apparent attempt to cover up his crimes and fled the scene by stealing Wesley's car," he alleged.

A neighbor spotted smoke billowing out of the apartment in the predawn hours and rushed in, rescuing the victim's son, who suffered minor injuries, according to police. Firefighters arrived moments later and extinguished the blaze, whereupon they found Wesley's remains.

The boy was briefly hospitalized and then released, in good condition, to the care of extended family.

Wesley's 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt was found by investigators two days later in a Hemet parking lot, within walking distance to McGlown's home, authorities said.

He was initially arrested and jailed for parole violations. Murrieta police completed an investigation and submitted their findings to the D.A.'s office, resulting in charges.

District Attorney Paul Zellerbach will decide at a later time whether to

pursue capital punishment if McGlown is convicted.