A New Jersey man who initially told authorities he ran inside a burning home to save his elderly neighbor from a house fire has now been charged with murder and setting the home ablaze.
William Ahle, 70, of Fanwood, allegedly told investigators he tried to save 82-year-old Virginia Cranwell when her home on Kempshall Terrace went up in flames in the early morning of July 25.
He reportedly said he was walking his dog around 1:30 a.m. when he noticed the fire, his son told ABC 7 at the time. He said his father rushed into the home and tried to get Cranwell out, but was pushed back by the flames.
Ahle suffered severe burns and was treated at the Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Cranwell’s body was meanwhile found in a second-floor bedroom when the fire was extinguished about 20 minutes later. She was pronounced dead at the scene, cops said.
A subsequent investigation ruled her death was a homicide and determined the fire was intentionally set, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement on Wednesday, nearly five months after the fire.
Ahle has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree felony murder, second-degree aggravated arson and first-degree burglary. He remains in custody at the Middlesex County Jail pending his next court appearance.
Several neighbors told ABC 7 they were shocked to found out Ahle had been arrested.
“He’s a neighbor, and he seems like a great guy,” one couple told the station. “He was known as the mayor of the street. Because he’s very helpful. He looks out for a lot of people around the neighborhood.”
Authorities have not released a motive for the fire. The prosecutor’s office has asked anyone who may have spoken to Ahle about the incident to contact their Homicide Task Force.
