Investigators in northwest Indiana arrest suspect in connection to deadly fire

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Investigators in northwest Indiana now say an apartment fire that left a woman dead was no accident -- and they've arrested a suspect.

Firefighters didn’t have far to go — the Portage Fire Department, next door to the Swanson Court apartment building where crews arrived around midnight, saying they pulled up to see a ground floor apartment was engulfed by flames.

After evacuating the building and performing a second floor rescue, they say it was the ground floor unit where they discovered 87-year-old Maria Leal.

Police say their K-9 sniffed out flammable liquids at the scene and Leal’s daughter told officers her boyfriend had threatened to torch the place earlier that evening.

With a description of his car, police say within an hour-and-a half, they found him, arrested him, towed his car, and executed a search warrant.

Now, his name and charges are being released. Jesse Chabes, 51, of Gary, is facing accusations of murder and arson.

He’s being held at the Porter County Jail without bail.

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