A man has been taken into custody under suspicion of setting a fire in his residence that resulted in the deaths of his 74-year-old grandmother, her caregiver, and a woman with cerebral palsy. Brayden Blake faces charges of murder and arson in Indiana after authorities responded to a fire in the 3800 block of East Anderson Road near Bloomington. Upon arrival, police found the house ablaze and a vehicle crashed into the garage.
Multiple individuals with burn injuries were discovered, along with an 18-year-old who had managed to escape the burning home. Tragically, the bodies of two victims, including 74-year-old Mary Blake and cerebral palsy patient Kristine Rowan, were found within the property.
A search was initiated for Blake, with law enforcement utilizing drones and tracker dogs to locate him. Blake was eventually located with severe burns in a wooded area near the scene. Investigators uncovered a plastic petrol can near the dining room and detected a strong smell of flammable liquid on a chair in the living room.
Blake was initially treated at a hospital but discharged without notifying the authorities. Subsequently, State Police and US Marshals tracked him down in Avon, Indiana. He was later arrested, charged with three counts of murder, three counts of murder while committing arson, and one count of arson.
During a court appearance, Blake claimed indigence and was provided a public defender due to financial constraints. He is currently held in custody pending a hearing scheduled for April 20.
