SON-IN-LAW FACES CHARGE OF KILLING MISSING WOMAN.

LANCASTER - A Palmdale mechanic, who was arrested, released and then arrested again on suspicion of killing his missing mother-in-law, was charged Tuesday with murder for financial gain.

The charges make 39-year-old Ken Walker eligible for the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted of killing 67-year-old Nada Lazarevic, who was reported missing last month.

Prosecutors in the family-violence unit of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed the charges after the case was rejected Friday by Lancaster prosecutors, who requested further investigation, officials said.

``The decision was made, based on the complexity of the case and the fact that it was going to be a long-cause case, that it be handled by a special unit,'' said Pamela Booth, head deputy in family-violence cases.

On Tuesday, Walker was scheduled for court appearances in two unrelated misdemeanor cases, officials said.

One was for a jury trial in which Walker faces charges of spousal abuse and cruelty to a child. The second was for further proceedings on a 1999 misdemeanor conviction for vandalism, officials said.

Lazarevic's car was located Sept. 11 near Yucca Avenue and Jackman Street. Investigators said evidence gathered from the vehicle linked Walker to her disappearance.

Lazarevic is still missing, and homicide detectives believe she is dead, officials said.

Detectives said they were told that Lazerevic, a Palmdale resident, disappeared after she said she was planning to see her daughter and Walker to discuss money they owed her. Another daughter reported her missing Aug. 28.

Neighbors last saw her as she left her home the evening of Aug. 25.

The case was initially handled by missing-persons detectives, who said they uncovered possible evidence of foul play and turned the case over to homicide investigators.

Walker was first arrested Sept. 12 after Lazarevic's 2000 Toyota Camry was found parked in downtown Lancaster. He was released Friday after no charges were filed, but he was rearrested by homicide investigators that same day.

Lancaster head Deputy District Attorney John Portillo did not file charges, citing insufficient evidence, homicide Detective Danny Smith said.

Smith said he believed the case warranted filing of charges and presented essentially the same information to prosecutors in the family-violence unit.

``In my opinion, it's a case that should be handled by a specialized unit,'' Smith said. ``It's a complex case. It has a lot of issues that I think warrant a vertical prosecution from a specialized unit.

Walker was being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned today in downtown Los Angeles.