MARTINEZ, Calif. (AP) – The mother of a teenager accused of killing a prominent attorney’s wife was arrested Thursday and held on suspicion of being an accessory to murder.

Esther Fielding, 53, was held on $500,000 bail, according to a deputy at the Contra Costa County Jail.

Her son, 16-year-old Scott Dyleski, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his neighbor, Pamela Vitale. She was the wife of defense attorney and television commentator Daniel Horowitz.

Horowitz found her body Oct. 15 in a mobile home on the Lafayette estate where they were building their 7,000 square-foot dream home. Vitale had been beaten and stabbed, investigators said.

That night, Dyleski called his mother, who told him to spend the night in Walnut Creek where his girlfriend lives, according to an affidavit. She said the road was blocked because of “police activity within the area,” the report said.

Dyleski was arrested Oct. 19 after police linked him to a tip about a neighbor’s stolen credit card. The credit card was allegedly used to buy hydroponic growing equipment – often used to cultivate marijuana – that was scheduled for delivery to the Horowitz residence, according to police documents.

Sheriff’s spokesman Jimmy Lee didn’t return pages seeking comment Thursday.

Judge David B. Flinn issued a temporary gag order Thursday until a Nov. 10 hearing, after attorneys on both sides sought to keep the case out of the media spotlight.

AP-ES-10-27-05 2235EDT