Police arrested a suspected arsonist and killer who investigators believe set fire to an apartment building to cover up a homicide that claimed the life of a 57-year-old man.
Convicted felon Demetrius Robinson, 50, is facing new murder and arson charges after firefighters discovered the body of Willie Evans, 57, while fighting a blaze at a 60 Warren Street apartment building on Jan. 23, police said. The fire was mostly contained to unit 56-A.
The medical examiner deemed Evans's death as a homicide and investigators determined after an autopsy that the fire was likely set on purpose to cover up the killing, police said.
Police obtained a warrant for Robinson's arrest on May 1 and charged him with murder and second-degree arson.
Robinson was previously convicted of manslaughter, a charge reduced in a separate homicide arrest, and served 15 years in prison in New York, police said.
Police and U.S. marshals took him into custody after locating him on Friday.
