Man burned 74-year-old grandmother alive, along with bedridden woman with cerebral palsy and caregiver, after purposely torching their house: Police
Share this @internewscast.com

Inset: Braydon Blake. Background: Home in the 3800 block of East Anderson Road near Bloomington, Indiana, that Blake allegedly set on fire (WXIN).

In Indiana, authorities have apprehended a man accused of setting a fire that tragically claimed the lives of his 74-year-old grandmother, her live-in caregiver, and another woman who was bedridden with cerebral palsy.

Braydon Blake faces charges of murder and arson. The incident was reported by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office after multiple 911 calls were made shortly after 2:30 a.m. on January 18. The calls described a fire trapping residents inside a home on the 3800 block of East Anderson Road near Bloomington. Upon arrival, fire crews found the house ablaze and a vehicle crashed into the garage.

Deputies discovered an 18-year-old woman who managed to escape the inferno, albeit with severe burns. Another individual also evacuated the property. Both were taken to the hospital, but tragically, one succumbed to injuries weeks later, as reported by the Bloomington Herald-Times. The deceased was identified as 53-year-old Paula Anderson. Firefighters found two additional victims inside: 74-year-old Mary Blake and 33-year-old Kristine Rowan, who was Anderson’s daughter.

Approximately an hour following the incident, police discovered Braydon Blake, identified by witnesses as the suspected arsonist, hiding in a wooded area on the property. He too suffered severe burns and was hospitalized.

According to a statement by Fox affiliate WXIN anchor Angela Ganote, Monroe County deputies monitored Blake at Eskenazi Hospital for about a month until their watch ended. The hospital was supposed to notify deputies upon his discharge. However, Blake was released on April 1 without any notification, as reported by the sheriff’s office.

Authorities learned of Blake’s release on Thursday. With assistance from the Indiana State Police and U.S. Marshals, deputies located and arrested Blake in Avon on Friday.

WXIN reported that Rowan, Anderson’s daughter, was bedridden. Mary Blake was suffering from cancer. The outlet also reported that the motive for the fire may have been a rape allegation against the defendant.

Blake remains in the Monroe County Jail without bond.

According to a GoFundMe account description by Anderson’s sister, Rowan suffered from cerebral palsy. Her 18-year-old sister also suffered serious burns in the fire.

“The fire, set by a member of the older woman’s family, took the lives of his own grandmother and my 33-year-old niece Kristine, who had lived with cerebral palsy and was bedridden,” Lindsey Pesonen wrote. “In a matter of moments, we lost our family member, and everything they owned was reduced to ashes.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Man Released on Bail Following Violent Incident that Hospitalized Police Officer

A 21-year-old man convicted of a brutal assault on a police officer…

Newberry Man Faces Additional Charge After Detective Links March-Seized Pistol to Stolen Gun Report

By Staff NEWBERRY, Fla. – A 23-year-old man, Kobe Deon Delima, faces…

Child Discovered on Roadway as Babysitter’s Troubling History Surfaces, Says District Attorney

Inset: Arissa Ward (Dauphin County Prison). Background: The Pennsylvania street where a…

Two Arrests Made Following Police Interception of Suspected ‘Kill Car’ in Western Sydney

Two men are in custody after police in an alleged ‘kill car’…

Authorities Issue Warnings Against Four ‘Finfluencers’ on TikTok for Financial Advice

Australia’s financial regulatory body is intensifying its scrutiny of social media “finfluencers”…

Exclusive: Ben Roberts-Smith’s International Business Ambitions Uncovered in Court Documents

Ben Roberts-Smith was eyeing business opportunities overseas before his arrest, but his…

Shocking Verdict: Son Receives Sentence for Gruesome Matricide During Home Invasion

Inset: John Aylor. Background: Body cam footage from Aylor”s arrest after he…

Teens Arrested Following Machete Incident on Melbourne’s Popular Dining Strip

Three teenagers have been charged over an alleged machete attack that unfolded…

Dispute Over Onion Rings at Steak ‘n’ Shake Escalates to Gunfire Incident

Background: News footage of the Steak ‘n’ Shake restaurant in Spanish Lake,…

Teen’s Killer Spared Additional Sentence Despite Prison Assault Incident

A judge recently expressed frustration over his limited ability to impose a…

Shocking Social Security Fraud: Man Conceals Partner’s Corpse for Years to Cash In

Inset left James Agnew (Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office). Inset right James O’Neill…

Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Alito Clash in Uncommon Opinion Exchange

U.S. Associate Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito, Jr., Clarence Thomas and Brett…