Man confessed to shooting 2 who were found dead in burning home
LEESBURG– Lake County deputies arrested a man who confessed to shooting two people whose bodies were found in a burning home near Leesburg on Tuesday morning, the Sheriff ’s Office said.
James Kenneth Porteous, 57, was arrested on two counts of first degree murder. Deputies believe he previously lived with the victims as family, according to his arrest affidavit.
Just before 9 a.m., deputies responded to a 911 call from a female caller at the East Dale Street residence who said, “I have been shot,” according to the arrest affidavit. Another 911 caller reported the home was on fire.
A neighbor told deputies that he heard gunshots and went outside to investigate, finding the fire and Porteous standing inside the carport. The neighbor told deputies Porteous said he had just shot two people inside and set the residence on fire.
Deputies arriving found
Porteous walking out from the carport of the burning home, according to his arrest affidavit. Porteous told deputies he “shot two people and they were inside the residence.”
Deputies wrote they found a pistol and two magazines sitting in a recliner chair inside the carport.
The Sheriff’s Office did not release the names or ages of the two people found dead inside the house. Their names were also redacted from the affidavit.
Porteous was taken for questioning and cooperated with detectives, LCSO spokesman Sgt. Fred Jones said. Crime scene investigators swabbed blood from his hands, which he told authorities was from breaking a window, adding, “I hope the blood on my shirt isn’t [her’s],” the affidavit said.
He was being held at the Lake County jail without bond Tuesday afternoon.