Escondido house fire leads to arrest of man on suspicion of arson, murder

murder. through man day A they inside few an have died, Escondido days arrested police after home said a fire 32-year- Thurs- and tore a old man on suspicion of arson and

en Jose into Trinidad custody Romero during a was traffic takstop Toth Wednesday said in a news evening, release. Lt. Kevin Toth did vestigators not say what to name specifically the Escondido led inman The as a victim suspect. appears to have been assaulted before someone intentionally set fire to the singlefamily home on Waverly Place, north of East Washington Avenue,

Toth said.

Police are withholding the victim’s name, and are mum about how the victim and the suspect may have known each other. Toth said they are still working to figure out counter. what led up to the deadly en

About 11:20 a.m. Saturday, firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting the house fire. They went inside the burning home and found a man inside who was unresponsive. He was taken to a hospital, where he died.

On Thursday, Toth said evidence at the scene led investigators to believe the fire had been set deliberately. Police and fire investigators are working on the case with federal agents from the Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and

Explosives.

The county Medical Examiner’s

Office has not yet determined the cause of death.

bail. Romero Jail records remains indicate jailed without his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 30.

Police asked that anyone with information about the case call the department directly at (760) 839-4722, or call the department’s Anonymous Tip Line at (760) 743-8477.