Crime
Braydon Blake Arrested Following Bloomington House Fire That Killed Two People
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Authorities are investigating a fatal house fire in Bloomington that left two people dead and one individual in police custody early Sunday morning.
According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), deputies and personnel from the Monroe County Fire Protection District were dispatched to the 3800 block of East Anderson Road at approximately 2:39 a.m. following reports of a residential structure fire.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a vehicle had crashed into an attached garage, which was fully involved in flames.
One individual had managed to escape the residence but was suffering from severe burn injuries.
A second individual on scene provided preliminary information to investigators.
Both were transported to a local hospital and later airlifted or transferred to Indianapolis for specialized burn treatment.
During a search of the residence, responders located two additional occupants inside the home.
As emergency crews worked the scene, law enforcement began searching for a person believed to be responsible for starting the fire.
With assistance from the Bloomington Police Department and the Indiana State Police, a person of interest identified as Braydon Blake was located approximately one hour later in a wooded area on the property.
Blake was also suffering from burn injuries and was transported to a local hospital before being transferred to Indianapolis for further medical treatment.
MCSO confirmed that two individuals later died as a result of their injuries.
A source told Channel2 NOW that her friend lost her grandmother, and that the grandmother’s caretaker also lost her disabled child in the incident.
The Monroe County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the identities of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances of the fire at this time.
A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, according to the Cincinnati Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Wilson, 65, who has been charged with aggravated murder in the death of 36-year-old Jessica Hardy. Wilson was taken into custody and is currently being held at the Hamilton County Justice Center.
Police said officers were dispatched at approximately 6:35 a.m. on March 6 to the 700 block of Ridgeway Avenue after receiving reports of a shooting.
When officers arrived at the Avondale apartment building, they discovered Hardy suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency crews attempted lifesaving measures, but Hardy was pronounced dead at the scene, according to investigators.
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office later confirmed her death and ruled the case an apparent homicide.
Detectives with the homicide unit launched an investigation shortly after the shooting, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they worked to determine the circumstances leading up to the deadly incident.
Wilson was subsequently identified as a suspect and arrested.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about what may have led to the shooting.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police have asked anyone with information related to the case to contact the homicide unit.