SON PLEAS NOT GUILTY IN MURDER.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

A Van Nuys man charged with killing his mother and committing arson at the apartment they shared pleaded not guilty at his arraignment at Van Nuys Superior Court on Tuesday.

Michael Oelschlaeger, 24, represented by a public defender, was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 28 and remained in custody in lieu of $1.25 million bail Tuesday, authorities said.

Oelschlaeger was taken into custody after he surrendered to police in Phoenix on Aug. 15 and returned to Los Angeles after waiving extradition, police said.

``He's been very cooperative,'' said LAPD Detective Mike Oppelt.

Investigators believe he choked and killed his mother, 49-year-old Linda Kennison, on Aug. 9 and then set the apartment they shared on fire.

Police responded to the apartment after tenants in the building on the 9500 block of Van Nuys Boulevard called 911 reporting a fire, said Oppelt.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire and officials found Kennison dead in the living room of the small apartment she shared with her son.

On Aug. 15, Los Angeles police were looking for Oelschlaeger when he surrendered himself to the Phoenix Police Department. Police suspected Oelschlaeger may have gone to Phoenix where he had family. Oppelt said a citizen urged Oelschlaeger to turn himself in.