A 40-year-old homeless man has been charged with aggravated arson after allegedly setting fire to his aunt and uncle’s home in Wheaton, Illinois.
Nahom T. Abraha faces one count of aggravated arson, a Class X felony, in connection with the incident on Sunday, September 13. A judge denied him pre-trial release when he appeared in court on Tuesday, and he is being held at DuPage County Jail.
Wheaton arson case
Police and firefighters were called to a property in the 200 block of Woodlawn Street at about 6.28am after a neighbour heard a noise outside and saw flames at the rear of the house.
The neighbour used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze before emergency crews secured the scene, prosecutors said. Officers later found a large clear bottle containing a yellow liquid in the garden of a neighbouring property.
Prosecutors allege Abraha arrived carrying a three-litre container filled with petrol, poured it over the house and set it alight before returning to his car.
He allegedly remained in the vehicle until he saw the neighbour leave his home. Abraha then drove to Wheaton police station and turned himself in, according to prosecutors.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said the alleged actions endangered people inside the property, emergency responders and others in the community. He praised the neighbour’s “quick actions”, which he said may have prevented a tragedy.
Wheaton Police Chief P.J. Youker also thanked residents, firefighters, officers and detectives involved in the response, saying community safety depended on residents and public safety officials working together.
Abraha is due to appear in court again on October 13. The allegations against him have not been tested in court.
